Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said government should not have any interference in working of the media while stressing that press is responsible for upholding free speech, and external control on press is not good for society. <br/><br/>Speaking at the Golden Jubilee programme of Press Council of India in New Delhi, Mr Modi said it is also responsibility of press to make appropriate changes with time. <br/><br/>The Prime Minister emphasised that internal discipline in the media is more important than any external intervention. He also quoted Mahatma Gandhi who had supported self-regulation by the media. <br/><br/>Referring to the Kandahar hijack in 1999, Mr Modi said news channels' round-the-clock reportage of angry reactions of the families of passengers in the Indian Airlines flight made terrorists emboldened as they thought they can get anything from the Indian government with this kind of public pressure. <br/><br/>He said, the episode set off introspection in the media which later came up with norms for the coverage of such incidents. Mr Modi recalled how the press council ceased to exist during the Emergency, saying that things normalised after Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister. <br/><br/>The Prime Minister also expressed concern over recent murders of journalists, saying it was very painful and a most dangerous way of suppressing truth. His remarks came against the backdrop of murder of two journalists in Bihar.<br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that freedom of expression should be exercised cautiously. Mr Naidu said that Government does not intend to have restrictions on media. He said, media should play a constructive role and positive news should be provided importance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said government should not have any interference in working of the media while stressing that press is responsible for upholding free speech, and external control on press is not good for society. <br/><br/>Speaking at the Golden Jubilee programme of Press Council of India in New Delhi, Mr Modi said it is also the responsibility of the press to make appropriate changes with time. <br/><br/>The Prime Minister emphasized that internal discipline in the media is more important than any external intervention. <br/><br/>Mr Modi recalled how the press council ceased to exist during the Emergency, saying that things normalised after Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister. <br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that freedom of expression should be exercised cautiously. Mr Naidu said that Government does not intend to have restrictions on media. <br/><br/>He said, media should play a constructive role and positive news should be provided importance.