A free, responsible and diverse media is as vital to parliamentary democracy as democracy is for freedom of speech and expression. An independent media can play crucial role in building and moulding public opinion which in turn, influences decision-making process, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said while inaugurating the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference (CPAC) on `Parliament and the media Law' here on Wednesday.
Freedom of the press also includes public's right to know and to participate in free flow of information, she observed. The relationship between Parliaments and legislatures and the media was crucial since the former were the forums which discuss the issues concerning the public and the latter that conveys the gist of the discussions to the people and also provides feedback, the Speaker said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs M. Venkaiah Naidu, AP Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, AP Legislative Council Chairman A. Chakrapani, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai and others along with presiding officers from 10 countries and 20 States and legislative secretaries attended the session.
Ms. Mahajan, while saying that the media enjoys great freedom of power and influence in a democratic society, cautioned that the same should be wisely and responsibly used and corresponding responsibilities were consciously fulfilled. "How to achieve this, by imposed laws or guidelines voluntarily imposed by the media itself is the main question", she said.
Mr. Chandrababu Naidu felt that a positive media aiding the large human and natural resources and good leadership could help India work wonders and the next two or three decades should belong to India.
The great developments in media, particularly the advent of social media, which he uses extensively, would help the Governments to get good feedback from the people and redress their grievances, Mr. Naidu observed.
Good debates (in the Parliament or Legislatures) were not getting focused in the media but ruckus created by the members and some continue to do ugly things to get attention of the media, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu observed.
While saying that Parliament and the press should not get too close or act as adversaries, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu wanted innovative reporting methods adopted to attract more readers. The media could focus on attendance of members, who were participating in debates and discussions or avoiding them, how many woman members were active in the house, etc., he felt.
News and views could not be combined and the news must reach the reader or viewer first, Mr. Naidu said and observed that Parliament and the press have equal responsibility in furthering democracy.
MP and executive committee member of CPA Prem Das Rai, Secretary General of Lok Sabha Anup Mishra and Secretary of AP Legislative Assembly K. Satyanarayana also particiapted.
