Will stress on empowerment by information, says Naidu

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M Venkaiah Naidu, who took charge as the Information and Broadcasting Minister after Tuesday’s sweeping Cabinet reshuffle, said the development evoked a favourable reaction from people and even from some rival leaders, while specifying his goals in the days to come.

Naidu, who replaced his Cabinet colleague Arun Jaitley, said “empowerment by information” is the key goal of his ministry. “Empowering people with proper information to fulfill their aspirations is essential,” he said on Wednesday. Naidu, who was earlier the in-charge of the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, said that performance, reformation, transformation and information (to the public) are his key goals.

“The Prime Minister has opted for change in both people’s attitude towards their aspirations and change in the bureaucracy. Ensuring proper flow of information for effective communication is only the way to revive the change,” he said.

Naidu added: “The Prime Minister’s focus is more on delivery. It needs effective coordination, monitoring, that is why these inductions are made.” Lauding PM Narendra Modi, Naidu addressed him as the “hope of the nation”, adding that after long time the country had a combination of a stable government and an able leader.

Flanked by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore, Naidu thanked Jaitley for having given quality time and attention to the important ministry, despite his preoccupation with the Finance Ministry and said he would like to carry on with the same approach.

He said his mission would be to ensure various media units of the government emerge as credible brands serving the cause of information to the people.