Jaipur, February 3. Chief Minister Mr Ashok Gehlot said that for a healthy democracy, the media must be free, fair, strong and aware.
He said today people talk that media is under pressure in the country, that should be a matter of concern for all of us. Dissent and criticism have an important place in a democracy and they should be accepted. Healthy criticism made by media in the public interest allows the governments to introspect and improve their working style, he said.
Mr Gehlot was addressing the foundation stone laying programme
of Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication through a
video conference from his official residence on Thursday. Around 1.24 lakh
square metre land has been allotted at Dahmi Kalan on Ajmer Road for the
State’s first journalism university and a project of Rs 328 crore has been
prepared for the construction of the building.
Mr Gehlot said, “During my last tenure, I had taken the
initiative to set up Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass
Communication with a purpose to further strengthen the journalism work and Dr.
Bhimrao Ambedkar Law University was also set up in the field of law. Unfortunately both these universities
were closed during the last government. With the present government coming to
power, we established them by bringing an Act. He said that the governments
keep on changing, but the decisions taken in the public interest should not be
changed.
The Chief Minister said, I am happy that one of my dreams is
coming true today with the laying of the foundation stone of the building of
Journalism University, he said. There will be no dearth of resources on the
part of the State Government in developing this University as a leading national-level
educational institution. He said that the media need to become strong for the
better future of the country and in such a situation, the responsibility of
this Journalism University increases further.
The Chief Minister said that the articles written by journalists
played significant role in giving boost to freedom struggle. Inspired by
Mahatma Gandhi Ji, freedom fighters such as Achleshwar Mama of Jodhpur and
former Chief Ministers Jainarayan Vyas and Haridev Joshi helped in generating
social consciousness. Keeping in view the role of journalists from Rajasthan
who earned name at the national level, it was our dream to set up the State’s
first University of Journalism and Mass Communication in the name of former
Chief Minister Late Haridev Joshi.
The Chief Minister said, “It was my wish that journalists,
social workers and intellectuals from the entire state should be present in
this important function, but it was not possible due to corona, thus the
foundation stone had to be laid virtually.” He said, “This varsity will be made
as a leading university of the country with everyone’s cooperation and
suggestions. I hope that journalists from this university will glorify the name
of Rajasthan with their work in journalism field.”
Mr Gehlot said that Rs. 115 crore will be spent on the
construction of this varsity’s building in the first phase. He was hopeful that
the construction would be completed before the stipulated time of 18 months and
the varsity currently functioning at the temporary building would shift to its
own building.
