Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday described the expanding social media as a “big challenge” to the traditional media as he lamented that the media sometimes “crosses its limit”.
“We have many challenges before us...social media is expanding its roots in a big way...if I become the broadcaster myself how big a challenge it will be for you all,” he said.
Speaking at the inaugural function of the Confederation of Newspapers and News Agencies Employees Organisations here, the Chief Minister said social media offers public representatives a platform to reach out to audiences.
“The speed with which things are changing...if I have to reach lakhs of people I will do it through the social media...this situation is a challenge for you...media persons are also coming on the Twitter and I have put police and other departments on Twitter,” he said.
Regretting that sometimes the media “crosses its limits”, he referred to a news item in a local newspaper branding him as “Aurangzeb”. In a lighter vein, he added he has not yet taken out his sword.
He said the SP government has extended all possible help to media persons and will continue to do so.
Mr. Yadav attacked the Mayawati government saying compared to the “patharwali sarkar“ -- in an apparent reference to the huge number of statues the BSP government installed of some party icons and its election symbol of ‘elephant’ -- people will find his government much more liberal and democratic.
The Chief Minister said Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh have recently been in the news. “It is another thing that it has happened because of the samajwadis,” he said, referring to the recent tussle in his Samajwadi Party.
He thanked the media for raising issues which act as information for the government to act upon.
- PTI
