By IANS,
New Delhi : After the relative success of its first ministerial media group, the government Friday unveiled an expanded face – comprising young ministers – to share its thinking with the people.
The earlier Group of Ministers, headed by Home Minister P. Chidambaram, was formed in May to brief media and counter “misinformation” following opposition attacks.
The others are Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal and Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Minister of State in the PMO V. Narayanasamy.
The aim of the expanded team is to help the government to reach out to the regional media too.
“You will not find the government wanting. These ministers would be available to you,” Chidambaram told a gathering of media persons here at the launch of the annual calendar of the directorate of advertising and visual publicity under the ministry of information
and broadcasting.
“They are young and educated. They are forward thinking and are hard working. They will explain government’s policy and share government’s thinking,” he said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said: “The event provided us an opportunity to bring both the senior and junior ministers on a common platform.”
“The younger ministers will now realise how sensitive it is to deal with the media,” she said.
Chidambaram introduced the GOM members to the media one by one on the dais, presenting a good photo opportunity to the camera persons.
Stating that “media can be harsh or critical” at times, the home minister said “it is the only vehicle through which the government can reach people.”
Observing that alternative media like twitter, facebook and sms is emerging in the country, he said it has still not replaced the traditional print or electronic media.
“Media tells us what the people think,” said Chidambaram.
Stating the current year had been a “difficult” one, he said “it was not without accomplishments” and expressed hope 2012 will be better than 2011.
The young ministers include Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasada, Milind Deora, R.P.N. Singh and M.M. Pallam Raju and Ajay Maken. Others are: Rajiv Shukla, Krishna Tirath, D. Purandeshwari and Ashwani Kumar.
Apart from the 2G spectrum scam and the Commonwealth Games scandal, the opposition has been targeting government on the issue of black money and FDI in retail. It is also bracing to attack the government on the proposed Lokpal bill and to raise the heat on creation of separate state of Telangana.
Interestingly, though the event was described as a government function, none of the UPA allies were present. A journalist remarked “it appears like a Congress do.”