Saifur's tirade

The finance minister has also chosen to accuse the media of manufacturing news to destroy the image of the country, something we find hard to comprehend. Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is indeed a travesty to suggest that the media is in any way less patriotic than others.

There seems to be a wrong perception of 'image' of the country that the finance minister seems to wear on his sleeves. We believe strongly that 'image' is more than a matter of keeping prices down or paying our farmers their due price. It is built on good governance, transparency in government dealings, and the rule of law, fulfilling commitments and not demonstrating ostrich like attitude, which the government has often done, when it comes to facing unpalatable facts. The image of the country rests on the deeds and misdeeds of the government itself. When the press calls a spade a spade and exposes the hard truth, why must a minister vilify the messenger for the unpalatable message rather than weighing in for corrective measures?

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Regrettably, failing to counter the press reports on rational and factual basis such vituperative remarks are resorted to. We consider such comments an attempt to cramp the free press and fetter the discharge of its rightful duty, which is to uphold the people's right to know the truth.