Indian media as powerful as three pillars of state: Minister

Kochi, Dec 15 (UNI) Asserting that the Indian media was as powerful as the executive, legislature and judiciary in the country, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today exhorted the ''Fourth Estate'' to use this power in a responsible manner.

Inaugurating the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Ernakulam Press Club here this evening, Mr Patil said the advent of new technology had media a very powerful instrument.

''The media is now more powerful than what it was in the past.

And, there is no doubt that this power is going to increase. But, when an individual, organisation or instrument becomes powerful, its responsibility also increases'', he said.

Urging the media to use its power in a responsible manner, he said the human mind should always reign over money and technology.

''If the human mind does not keep pace with technology, accidents are likely to happen'', he said.

Cautioning journalists that their work was going to become even more difficult and complex with fast-changing technology, he said electronic television channels were now covering news 24 hrs a day.

Describing journalism as a ''noble profession'', like the medical field, the minister said it was also prone to ''contamination and pollution''. Journalists should always be alert to this danger.

Kerala Fisheries' Minister S Sarma, Member of Parliament Sebastian Paul, MLA K V Thomas, Kerala Press Academy Chairman Thomas Jacob, Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) President P P Sassendran, KUWJ General Secretary N Padmanabhan and Ernakulam Press Club founder-President N N Sathyavrathan were also present on the occasion.

UNI