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Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a brief media address Saturday said the members of the fourth estate were doing a service to the nation by writing about a clean India.
"I am reading so many articles on clean India. Electronic and social media is also doing a comprehensive debate on it. This is a service to the nation. This is a good example of how the media can play a constructive role," Modi said at a media meet at the BJP headquarters here.
He said that by virtue of these writing, an environment was being created where citizens are coming together to work hand in hand with the government.
"Since independence, it was beleived that the government would do everything. But media is encouraging people to work for the nation. There is now an environment where citizens are realising that all have to work together," Modi said.
He said he has had a close association with the media and that he wants to strengthen it.
"When I interact with the media, I not only get information, but I also get a vision," Modi said.
He said that he used to once help with the seating arrangement at media meets and used to interact freely with the press, and even though times have now changed, he was looking for ways to deepen his old ties with the media.
"Those were different days when we used to interact freely. I had a beautiful relationship with you and it helped me in Gujarat."
Fondly recalling that relationship, the Prime Minister, who has not formally met the media since he took over in May, said he was looking for ways to further deepen and expand it.
"Some way will be found. It is important to interact with media directly rather than the reportage and articles.
"By interacting directly, one gets to know things which media persons cannot report. Not only does one get information but also vision, which is very valuable," he said.
The entire top brass of the government and BJP were present at the get-together. This included the party President Amit Shah, senior ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and Prakash Javdekar.
