New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged Indian media organisations to focus on highlighting the country’s achievements and success stories, emphasising that positive developments across different sectors deserve greater attention.
Addressing journalists during the Diwali Milan programme at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Modi said considerable work was already being done to showcase India’s progress. He expressed confidence that the country would eventually achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation.
The Prime Minister highlighted his government’s achievements in poverty reduction, claiming that around 50 crore people had moved above the poverty line over the past 12 years. Referring to India’s progress, he said poverty had been substantially reduced through government initiatives, marking a significant change from earlier political promises of eliminating poverty.
Modi also spoke about his long association with the media, recalling his early days when he would help arrange chairs at similar gatherings. Reflecting on the transformation of journalism, he said he had witnessed the industry evolve from traditional press releases to the growing influence of social media platforms and Instagram reels.
He acknowledged the efforts of field reporters, observing that journalists frequently reach challenging locations, including areas affected by disasters and other emergencies. He noted that reporting often involves working under difficult circumstances, demonstrating the importance of ground-level journalism.
Apart from highlighting national achievements, Modi called upon media organisations to actively participate in creating awareness about the growing problem of drug abuse.
The interaction brought together the Prime Minister and members of the media for an informal Diwali gathering, with discussions focusing on India’s development journey, the changing media landscape and the responsibility of journalism in highlighting important national issues.
