I have travelled crucial ten yards to be here, says Dua

New Delhi, Dec.21 (ANI): Delivering his maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha, The Tribune group of newspapers' Editor-in-Chief H.K.Dua has sought to remind the House that the opportunity to be able to speak in the august House came his way after an odyssey of 45 years in political arena.

Giving a personal touch to his maiden speech in Rajya Sabha , Editor in Chief of Tribune H.K.Dua commenced his speech by saying: "Mr. Deputy Chairman Sir, over 45 years ago, I was in the Press Gallery above where I started my Parliamentary reporting. In these 45 years, I have travelled a distance of 10 yards to avail. These have been crucial ten yards to reach here."

"Thank you, very much for giving me a chance to speak here, Mr Deputy Chairman," "In this maiden speech as you said, I dedicate myself to the service of the House and the country and the values for which both stand for," Dua said as he stood up to speak on a Bill related to Electoral Reforms, in Rajya Sabha with the Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan in the Chair.

One of the senior-most journalists of the country and Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune group of newspapers, HK Dua, has been nominated by the President to the Rajya Sabha.

HK Dua has served as editor for over 15 years in four leading national dailies. He has been the Editor of the Hindustan Times, Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express and Editorial Advisor of The Times of India. He has served as Press Advisor to two prime ministers, and was India's Ambassador to Denmark before taking up his present assignment with The Tribune six years ago.

In 1998, he was conferred Padma Bhushan by President K.R. Narayanan.

He has received the Durga Rattan award for Excellence in Journalism, the Freedom of Information Award, the GK Reddy Award and the BD Goenka Award. He has also been conferred honorary degree of D.Lit. by Kurukshetra University. Dua also served as President of the Editors' Guild of India for two terms. (ANI)