Vice President Hamid Ansari visits Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 27: Pointing out that the new generation depended mostly on the Internet for getting information, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari today expressed concerns over the authenticity of the information they get through the net.

Inaugurating the International Book Fair, organised by the Bala Sahitya Institute of the Department of Culture here, he said the Internet was of great help in the present times and offered vast information.

However, he expressed concern over the authenticity and quality of instant information available on the internet because of the country's pluralistic society.

Dr Ansari said in a democratic set-up like India with inherted ethos, books should be acceptable to the society. As the contents of books could lead and mislead society, everyone should keep in mind that they should have a broad framework.

Expressing happiness over the fast growing publishing industry, Dr Ansari said the publilshing industry in the country was growing both in quantity and quality.

The Vice - President said content, quality of production, affordability and social impact were the cardinal principles in book publishing.

Earlier, in his presidential address, Governor R L Bhatia said that nothing can replace the pleasures of reading. Despite the invasion of IT, the number of genuine book lovers seldom diminish, he added.

UNI