File Photo: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar
Media must inform and spread awareness among the people by criticizing the functioning of the government, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said.
Mr Khattar also stressed the need for the media and government to work together for the welfare of the people.
"A journalist must inform and spread awareness among the people by criticizing the functioning of the government and pointing out the drawbacks," he said.
On its part, the government should learn to take criticism in the right spirit, and improve upon its functioning, he stressed.
He was speaking at the three-day 8th Plenary Session of a media function in Kurukshetra.
He said that journalism is the fourth pillar of democracy and he supported freedom of the press and the rights of journalists.
The chief minister said the government is alive to the issue of insurance cover for journalists according to age, and security of their rights.
Mr Khattar said that during the last three months, his government had tried its best to provide transparent governance.
"Graft-free governance is his top priority," he said.
With the launch of e-Registration, CM Window, CM web-portal and police portal 'Harsamay', the confidence of the people in the functioning of the government has increased, he said.
The forthcoming budget session of the state Assembly would have a special provision under which views and suggestions of people would be sought on the Budget proposals and effort would be made to implement the best ones, he stated.