Media with its objectivity and fairness should be a partner in nation-building: Vice President Radhakrishnan

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan urged media houses to become partners in nation-building through their constructive role as the fourth pillar of the democratic system. He also emphasised the urgency to check the spread of fake news and misinformation in the digital era.

Addressing the inaugural event of Ramoji Excellence Awards-2025 at Ramoji Film City, the Vice-President lauded the efforts of late media baron Ramoji Rao in value-based journalism.

“Truth, objectivity, and fairness should be the mainstay of media houses,” he said. Praising the late Ramoji Rao for achieving great heights in the fields of journalism and the film industry, he commended the establishment of Ramoji Film City, stating that one can come to the Film City with a script and go with a print. He hailed Ramoji Group for instituting the Excellence Awards in his memory.

On the other hand, he lamented the growing drug menace across the nation and urged people to fight the menace. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu and Chief Minister of Telangana A. Revanth Reddy, recalled their association with Ramoji Rao and the latter’s commitment towards people’s issues.

“Ramoji Rao, as a media house owner, championed the people’s issues. He played the role of an Opposition to resolve their issues,” Mr Naidu said, calling the late media baron a maverick in many fields.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy termed the Ramoji Film City as the fourth wonder of Hyderabad and said that the State government would extend all support to sustain the legacy of the “Ramoji” brand in various sectors, mainly journalism and the promotion of the state-of-the-art Ramoji Film City, which has emerged as the hub of film-making in the world.

Maintaining credibility is the hallmark of the Eenadu news group. Ramoji Rao has also made his own mark in selling pickles and news content in the competitive market.

Congratulating all the recipients of Ramoji Excellence Awards, the Chief Minister said, asserting that they should all strive to pass on Ramoji’s ideas to future generations. The Ramoji brand should be alive forever.

Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, former Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, and former Chief Justice of India NV Ramana called Ramoji Rao a true inspiration for generations to come and recalled his services in the field of journalism.

Mr. Venkaiah Naidu and Mr. N. V. Ramana stressed the need to promote Telugu, the mother tongue, in all spheres, while giving due importance to English and Hindi. The award recipients include Pallabi Ghosh in the Women Achievers category, Sathupati Prasanna Sree in Arts and Culture, Akash Tandon in Service to Humanity, Jaideep Hardikar in Journalism, Madhavi Latha in Science and Technology, Srikanth Bolla in Youth Icon, and Amla Ruia in Rural Development category.

Union Ministers Kishan Reddy and K Ram Mohan Naidu were present while Ramoji Group CMD Kiron Kumar welcomed the gathering.