Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the platinum jubilee celebrations of 'The Assam Tribune' here, on Saturday said it was an honour to be among the people who had used the power of the pen for society.
"I am coming among those people, who have used the power of the pen for society. Newspapers mould our thoughts. Newspapers born during the time in which Assam Tribune were born in circumstances that were painful. I am here to salute all those people who worked with this paper," the Prime Minister said.
Underlining the importance of newspapers, the Prime Minister said that there was a time when newspapers used to look for news but that had changed now.
"It would be wrong to say that newspaper only informs us and delivers news, newspapers shape our perception. There was a time when newspapers used to look for news, time has changed, today news look for newspapers. Most of the newspapers are born out of sorrows of society; the resentment within society was expressed through power of pen," he stated.
Prime Minister Modi earlier today expressed his government's commitment to realise the potential of the north-east and to accelerate its progress.
In a series of tweets issued ahead of his three-day visit to the north-eastern states of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland, the Prime Minister said that he was eagerly looking forward to being there and interacting with the people.