Criticism Must Be Fact-based; JNU Scribes Have Certain 'conviction': Gadkari

Mumbai, May 4 (PTI) Union minister Nitin Gadkari today said young journalists passing out of Jawaharlal Nehru University have a "particular conviction", and though criticising the government is a democratic right, the criticism must be based on facts.

"The young-generation journalists, who have passed out from Jawaharlal Nehru University, the conviction in their minds is clear," he said, without elaborating on what this "conviction" is.

"Even if they criticise us, democracy gives them the right to do so. However, it should be based on facts," the Union road transport minister said at 'Narad Jayanti Programme and Excellence in Journalism Award Ceremony', organised by Vishwa Samvad Kendra here.

If the government's policy or decisions are wrong, criticism is justified, but at times a misleading image of the government is portrayed, he said.

"Values are needed in journalism as well. Some people have still saved these values. Even during the Emergency, while a lot of people went with the flow, some people stood their ground and upheld their values," Gadkari said.

He recounted his exchange with a former British prime minister to stress the importance of values.

"The (British) PM asked me what are the biggest issues of India. I told him they are related to unemployment, poverty, etc.

"I asked him what was his country's biggest concern. He said it was live-in relationships that was posing a hazard to their society," Gadkari said.

When asked if this "problem" plagued India too, Gadkari told the British PM that it was on a very small scale.

"This is because our society, family, education are value-based. This is our biggest strength," the minister said.

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