Narendra Modi's government believes in freedom of the press, acknowledging it as the essence of democracy and no "external" regulation has worked in media, Information and Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said on his first day in office.
"We believe that press freedom is the essence of democracy. And to make democracy a success, we require this press freedom because it gives people the choice in a rainbow of differing opinions," the Minister said.
He recalled restrictions imposed on media during the Emergency and said that he was among those who had opposed it.
"There is no external regulation which works in media", he said.
