Some sections of the media rotten, says Jindal

Congress MP Naveen Jindal, whose company has filed a case against Zee News in an alleged extortion case, on Saturday said while the media in India was very vibrant and powerful there were some sections that are 'rotten'.

Congress MP Naveen Jindal, whose company has filed a case against Zee News in an alleged extortion case, on Saturday said while the media in India was very vibrant and powerful there were some sections that are "rotten".



"India today has a very vibrant and powerful media. I will credit the media for the wonderful work they have done. But like everywhere else there are a few rotten elements in them.

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"Media should always reflect truth because the common man has not much knowledge about certain issues and they directly believe what the media says" Jindal said at a seminar in New Delhi on Saturday.

"If I say something as a politician, people will not believe me feeling I may not be telling the truth; if I say something as a politician, they will say I am selling my product. However, when someone speaks something on TV or writes in a newspaper, people will believe it," the Congress leader asserted.

Referring to the Zee row, the 42-year-old industrialist said "for a matter of principle, someone has to be ready to take the fight".

"With so many channel shows around you, some try to harm you, demonise you," he said.

The business tycoon has accused a Zee journalist of attempting to extort Rs.100 crore from him in exchange for not doing a story on the coal blocks scam implicating his company.

Two Zee editors, Sudhir Chaudhary and Samir Ahluwalia were arrested on November 27 in 2012 on a complaint by Jindal Steel and Power Ltd.

Speaking to students and entrepreneurs on the 2nd day of Young India summit, Jindal said: "Youth has energy, passion, vision. Try to implement your dreams. Youth should do what their heart says. Follow your heart. Do what you really want to do and enjoy whatever you are doing."

Industrialist and CII president Adi Godrej emphasized on youth to take philanthropy as subjects and work on inclusive innovation and growth.

Godrej said the youth should actively work in one or two area of their choice and spend time to get maximum exposure in those areas.

Youth affairs secretary Nita Chowdhury said: "88% of India population have health issues related to water bodies. These all are preventable but we don't work in this direction. Give ideas to the government, which will be very happy to take the ideas and work in that direction."

She asked the youth to work in the agriculture sector, saying the area requires more involvement of youth.

"Youth have to come forward with ideas, the government will help in the implementation. We have programmes but we lack innovation. We have thousands of ideas, lets make it to millions."