Shourie backs FDI in print media

KOZHIKODE: Coming out strongly in support of allowing FDI in electronic and print media, former union minister and BJP leader Arun Shourie on Wednesday said successive governments failed to take a clear stand on the issue only owing to 'fears expressed by some big newspapers'.

Noting that FDI in electronic and print media should not be looked at from the commercial point of view but 'on improving our performance', he said, "If we can entertain news from foreign news agencies, why not allow foreign newspapers.

"Let us get all information and leave it to the readers to accept or reject it," he said.

On sting operations, Shourie, himself a noted journalist, said he was for it, provided it was done in a fair manner to get documentary evidence unlike Tehelka, which, he alleged, indulged in 'unfair means'.

Asked about farmers committing suicide in large numbers in neighbouring Wayanad district, he said, "it reflects the broken administration system at the district level".

"While the Centre will keep announcing packages for their relief from time to time, in the end it cannot be delivered as we do not have the hands to implement it," he said.

Shourie called upon the media to play a positive role by focussing on issues that affected vital aspects of life and not trivialities.

Welcoming the Centre's proposal to erect a temporary bulletproof steel structure around the 'Ram Lalla' idol in Ayodhya to thwart any attack, he said, "in security matters, you can never overdo security."

The Centre had yesterday told the Supreme Court that it would work for evolving a consensus on erecting the structure and had sought the Court's permission.

Accusing Pakistan of encouraging terrorism on one hand and wanting the peace process with India to go ahead on the other, he said, New Delhi should convince Islamabad that it was in no hurry to carry forward the peace process in the present situation.