Press should imbue respect for democracy among youth:Somnath

New Delhi, Feb 16 (UNI) Expressing concern that a section of the population, particularly the youth, was becoming ''increasingly cynical'' about democratic functioning, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has said the press should help enhance respect for democracy and its institutions.

Speaking at a function here yesterday in connection with the launch of the ''Delhi edition of the Mathrubhumi''newspaper, Mr Chatterjee said the people ''were being constantly fed negative images about institutions of governance, particularly the representative institutions''.

The Speaker said it was important for the media to function in a manner which helped enhance respect for democracy and its institutions.

''The press has the onerous responsibility to secure and safeguard freedom and democracy and its institutions. Our society is highly pluralistic in terms of religions and languages...In that endeavour an independent press plays a crucial role,'' he observed.

He said free media and democracy co-exist. ''Isolated instances of irresponsible conduct by individuals and groups, who are otherwise part of one institution or the other, should not be projected as reflections of the decay of the institution they are associated with,'' he added.

Mr Chatterjee said ''an informed and educated population'' was one of the greatest assets of a democracy.

UNI