Your Pen Has Turned Into A Broom: PM Modi To Journalists

In the first major interaction with the media after becoming Prime Minister, Narendra Modi praised the journalists for a wide coverage of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

He held a press meet at the BJP headquarters today where he met senior journalists.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by BJP chief Amit Shah, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar and senior party leaders. Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also joined Modi at the presser.

Addressing the journalists, PM Modi said that he was trying to find a way to interact more and more with the media as the work keeps him engaged. “There was a time when I used to wait for media persons to arrive/put chairs for them, I had friendly relations with all,” he said. Modi said that the exercise will not only give him different perspective on the various issues but will also let him get information.

The Prime Minister thanked journalists for covering his government’s Swachh Bharat campaign.

He said that he noticed how several senior columnists, who had never written about sanitation in India, were now penning articles about it.

“You have now converted your pens into brooms. In last one month have read several articles on ‘Swachhta’, a lot is being discussed in social media too,” he said.

He further added that he was glad the media themselves highlighted how individuals can make a change in bringing about a cleaner India.

The Prime Minister is not expected to take questions during the interaction, titled ‘Diwali Milan’. Around 400 journalists have been invited to the event which is being seen as a political interaction and not an official government event.