· CONGRATULATES MEDIA FRATERNITY ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
By SK.Vyas
Goraya (Jalandhar), May 3, 2018: Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Varinder Kumar Sharma today said that freedom of the press was the basic ingredient for safeguarding the democratic values in the country.
Addressing the gathering during a function organized by the Goraya Patarkar Association to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day here today, the Deputy Commissioner said that the Press played a significant role in the dissemination of the information to the people and moulding the public opinion. He said that the press/ media showcase the facts and opinions without which democratic system could not survive. He said that freedom of the Press was the heart of social, economic and political intercourse.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the people had every right to be informed of the developments that took place in a democratic process and the press played a vital role in disseminating this information. He said that due to the key role being played by the Media, it was often regarded as the ‘Fourth Estate’ in a democratic system. Mr. Sharma said that freedom of Press had always been a cherished right in all democratic countries adding that the democratic credentials of a state were judged often by the extent of Freedom that press enjoyed in it.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the Press enjoys the liberty of ‘Freedom of the Press’, which had been defined as freedom to hold an opinion, to receive and to impart information through the printed and electronic media without any interference from any public authority. However, he said that at the same time, this freedom carries certain responsibilities, obligations and disciplines, which must be fulfilled in right earnest. Sharma congratulated the scribes on this occasion and urged them to discharge their duties with utmost professional commitment and sincerity.
On the occasion, Assistant Inspector General of Police Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh, senior Journalists Surinder Pal, HS Basra, Patras Masih, Parampreet Singh Narula and others were also present.
Earlier President of the Association Gurjit Singh Gill, Sarabjit Singh Gill, Pramod Kaushal, Manjit Makkar and others felicitated the guests.