World Press freedom Day and print and electronic media of Haryana.
Gustakhi Maaf Haryana — Pawan Kumar Bansal
Today is World Press Freedom Day. They say there are seven wonders in the world.
But there is an eighth wonder too—and that is the print and electronic media of Haryana.
Not a wonder because it is powerful, but a wonder because despite knowing everything, people still live under the illusion
that the media will raise their issues or reveal the true condition of the state.
The truth is simple—the media needs advertisements, and the government holds a massive budget.
On top of that, nearly 80% of the media is controlled by politicians.
Everyone knows the names— the newspapers are theirs, the channels are theirs, and the news… tailored to their interests.
Some run newspapers as a cover for land dealings, some operate out of rented buildings, some are family-owned,
others are directly owned by politicians.
And then there is the ordinary writer, who genuinely wants to speak the truth, standing only on the support of readers.
We are considering launching a weekly newspaper from Gurugram.
No big budget,
no political backing— only the support of readers like you.
Because real power lies neither in authority nor in money— real power lies with the readers.
If the ink of the pen carries honesty and a commitment to the profession, it can be more powerful than a missile.
Otherwise…
what difference remains
between a journalist and a broker?
(Forgive the impertinence 🙏)
Postscript
A few days ago,
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini
visited my residence in Gurugram
to inquire about my ailing mother.
He offered to provide government advertisements
for “Gustakhi Maaf Haryana.”
I thanked him,
but clearly said— this platform is not for profit. Even today,
it is sustained by readers…
and they will remain its true strength in the future as well.