Electronic media must play a greater role: Antony

New Delhi, June 20: Defence Minister A K Antony today said the electronic media had emerged as the most powerful communication tool in the country, and asked private television channels to play a ''greater'' role in the emerging socio-economic scenario.

He was inaugurating the National Bureau and the studio of "Jaihind TV," a Malayalam channel sponsored by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), at the YWCA complex here.

Mr Antony said there were still space for more new channels.

"There are already a lot of television channels. While all the existing channels are surviving, more channels are being launched." He said the greatest strength of Indian democracy was its strong media. "In a democracy, the strongest pillar is media," he said.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said the channel should be a trend setter in Malayalam television journalism.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said the print and the electronic media have been playing a greater role in Kerala.

KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala, who is also President of the channel, said the "Jaihind TV," with its headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, will be formally launched at New Delhi by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on August 17 marking the first day of the Malayalam month Chingam.

''The channel will have a national vision with an independent approach," he said.

Mr Chennithala said nationalism and secularism would be the guiding spirit of the Jaihind TV.

Jaihind TV Director M M Hassan, Mr T K A Nair, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Senior CPI(M) MP Suresh Kurup, Malayalam Literary critic Omcherry N N Pillai, Prasar Bharathi Board Member George Varghese, YWCA Delhi chapter President Lilly George, Jaihind Communications Chairman Vijayan Thomas, Bharat Broadcasting Network Chairman Aniyankutty and Jaihind TV Chief Operating Officer and Chief Editor Sunnykutty Abraham also spoke.

UNI