I welcome healthy criticism, says Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah emphasizes the importance of truthful journalism and criticizes political criticism during a press club event.

Stating that he would welcome healthy criticism and would correct himself based on it, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said if the criticism was just for political reasons, he would not care about it.

“The BJP that criticised our guarantee schemes has copied and announced them in different names. Despite that, it (the BJP) placed false advertisements during the Maharashtra elections that the guarantees in Karnataka have not been implemented. Today, journalism based on speculation is increasing. Journalists should work as the voice of the people. If possible, try to write the truth,” the Chief Minister said after felicitating journalists with awards announced by the Press Club of Bangalore (PCB) here.

The Hindu’s Digital Editor Subhash Kevin Rai was among the five senior journalists honoured with the Press Club of Bangalore’s (PCB) Suvarna Mahotsava Award. The Hindu’s Senior Deputy Editor Nagesh Prabhu was among the 50 journalists who received the PCB’s annual award for 2024.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said the biggest service of journalists to society is to report news based on self-conscience. “Do not try to sensationalise news or support superstition. What did you do after a crow sat on my car? Channels invited astrologers who predicted that I would not complete my term. Not only did I complete five years, but I have been re-elected for the second time. Now, tell me if the credibility of the channels came down due to the crow incident or not? We would have spoken something during dinner. However, the media writes our dialogue about things that we do not know.”