Hyderabad: M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, today cautioned against “unhealthy” competition in the media and said their power should be used for the social good. Speaking as the Chief Guest at the inaugural session of the five-day workshop on ‘Capacity Building of Working Urdu Journalists in Telangana and its Thereabouts’ organized by Maulana Azad National Urdu University and Delhi-based Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, the Minister said that the development and empowerment of minorities and women is on the priority list of his government. “Muslims are the equal citizens of this country…Those who wanted to go to Pakistan are gone…There should be complete equality among all citizens…” he said. The Minister who appeared in his spirits spoke in an imaginative mix of Hindi, Urdu, Telugu and English making the audience admire his repertoire and repartee. He reminded the audience the sterling role played by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in the freedom struggle. “We need to emulate his spirit,” he said.
Mr. Naidu recalled the sterling role played by Urdu language in the freedom struggle of India and said that his government was committed to its development. “Urdu is an Indian language”, therefore, it should enjoy its due position in the country, he added. He told the audience that comprised students, media persons, teachers and others that the BJP government would strengthen its stand on the development of Minorities and Women.
The Information Minister asked journalists to make use of the new media effectively in connecting with the readership and audience. In the mean time, Mr. Naidu released Special Edition of University’s Magazine “Al Kalam” on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Senior journalist Padmashree Alok Mehta underscored that media persons reflect the changing realities of life. Prof Irteza Kareem, Director NCPUL, expressed deep remorse at the steep decline in the use of Urdu as a language of reading and writing. “Urdu is everywhere. At the same time it is nowhere,” he said and asked people to provide their children knowledge of Urdu.
Dr Aslam Parvaiz, Vice-Chancellor MANUU, who chaired the session emphasized the need for focusing on providing Urdu education at the school level. “Take care of the plant at the root level; it will grow on its own,” he said.
Dr Shakeel Ahmed, Registrar MANUU, welcomed the audience while Prof Mahmood Siddiqui conducted the proceedings.