Only slogans can't placate public now: Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said people will not just listen to slogans now as they are capable enough to judge with the medium of social media.

Speaking at the launch of the book 'Mann ki Baat - A Social Revolution on Radio', he said the new forums of communications which have come up in recent years would change the form of public communication to an "unimaginable level" in the years to come.

"The India today and that of 1960s and 70s are different. Now people will not listen to slogans only. They will be capable enough to judge," Jaitley said.

"Through that judgement people take decisions and the medium (social media platforms) for such judgement are also free of cost," he added.

Taking a dig at the current role of news media, Jaitley, who also handled the Information and Broadcasting portfolio during 2014-2016, said media organisations have now turned to "agenda-setting" against the conventional role of reporting issues and events.

--IANS

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