Chandigarh  (Face2News Bureau)

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged the foreign based Punjabi media to play a pro-active role in disseminating information, news and views in a free, fair and objective manner besides highlighting the overall development of the state in true perspective. In his address on the re-launch of the Indo-American Times, the Chief Minister felicitated its founder & Chief Editor Mr. Narinderpal Singh Hundal for this unique initiative, adding he said that NRI media could play a constructive role in quelling the misconceptions from the minds of Punjabi Diaspora through acting as a bridge between them and the Punjabis of the state.  He said that this US based Punjabi weekly would surely come up to the expectation of the readers to get unbiased and correct information regarding state’s development-oriented policies and programs. Putting the significant achievement of SAD-BJP government in the promotion of Punjabi language, art and culture on record, Mr. Badal said that our government gave due recognition and status to the Punjabi language by declaring it as official language.  He urged the NRI media to come forward in espousing the cause of Sikh Panth, Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat besides bringing awareness about the immense contribution of Shiromani Akali Dal in the national polity especially amongst the younger generation which was nearly oblivious of its century old rich legacy.  He also sought cooperation from the NRI media to showcase the initiatives taken by the Punjab government in perpetuating the glorious cultural heritage through Khalsa Heritage Complex, War Memorial, Jang-e-Azadi and others for the coming generations. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, NRI Affairs Minister Jathedar Tota Singh impressed upon the NRI media to publish factual aspect of the Punjab’s success story of development and said “criticism for the sake of just criticism is undesirable but positive criticism is always welcomed by one and all.  He said that now there was a perceptible change in the attitude of NRI media as they have started appreciating the development initiatives in the state gradually but still lot was desired.  He asked the foreign Punjabi media to abstain from elements of negativity, slant and colour just to tarnish the image of their leaders which was not only unfair, deplorable but also against the very ethics of journalism.  Jathedar Tota Singh further said that this trend would have to be reversed otherwise the efforts of the state government in projecting Punjab on the world map would go down the drain. Earlier, the Chief Minister released a copy of Indo-American Times on the occasion of its re-launch. Later, the senior Punjabi journalist and Chief Editor of Babushahi.com Mr. Baljit Balli, who is also associated with this weekly proposed a vote of thanks and said that their team would certainly tread on the path of positive and development-oriented journalism to hard sell Punjab in the world.On the occasion the Chief Editor of the weekly, Mr. Narinderpal Singh Hundal welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and hoped that the re-launched weekly would go a long way in strengthening the socio-economic ties amongst the Punjabis across the globe. Prominent others who attended the function included Member Parliament Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Advisor to Chief Minister on National Affairs and Media Mr. Harcharan Bains, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, eminent artiste Mr. Jarnail Singh, ex-Indian hockey skipper Mr. Rajpal Singh and Sant Baba Malkiat Singh Jabbarwale.