Good journalism key to governance, empowers citizens: CM Nitish Kumar launches Express edition in Patna
GOOD journalism empowers citizens and is essential to good governance, said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as he welcomed the launch of the Patna edition of The Indian Express at a function at his residence Monday.
This is the 11th edition of the newspaper that publishes from New Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Pune and, now, Patna.
Said Kumar: 'I am delighted at the launch of Patna edition of The Indian Express. It is good that the newspaper has come to Patna. I have been an avid reader of the newspaper since my college days. Good journalism empowers the citizen and is fundamental to good governance.'
All leading political parties welcomed the Patna edition. Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said: 'It is matter of great pride and honour that The Indian Express has come to Patna. The newspaper is known for its objective journalism. We are looking forward to good and comprehensive reports from grassroots to governance.'
Said RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha: 'In an age where sensationalism triumphs over sense and many media platforms have lost their balance, The Indian Express carries the flag of news over noise…uncompromising on high-quality, well-argued editorials and op-eds which helps us appreciate nuanced perspectives on politics, policy, society, and international affairs.'
AICC Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru said: 'Delighted to hear the Patna/Bihar edition launch of The Indian Express. I hope this edition will set the standard for journalism here.'
The launch of the Patna edition comes the month that marks 50 years of the imposition of Emergency in 1975. It was The Indian Express, under Ramnath Goenka, which took the lead in opposing the suspension of fundamental rights, the muzzling of the Press and the excesses of authorities.
The Indian Express Editor Unni Rajen Shanker; Vice President (Marketing, North), Pradeep Sharma; and Patna-based Senior Assistant Editor Santosh Singh were present on the occasion.
Thanking the CM, Shanker said: 'The Indian Express in Patna will take voices from Bihar to the rest of the nation. This becomes more relevant at a time of such disruptive change in technology and society.'
Said Chairman Viveck Goenka: 'Bihar always had a very special place in Ramnathji's heart. The Patna edition will draw on our rich history to tell the story of the exciting future of a state and its people.'
Announcing the launch, Chief Editor Raj Kamal Jha said: 'Through our investigative and explanatory journalism, with emphasis on original field reporting, we shall give our best to do justice to the changing Bihar story.'
Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
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