Indian security agencies need to change media policy, says Ajit Doval

• Doval says it is prime responsibility of media outlets to report on sensitive issues with true information.
• Perception management is an important part of dealing with terrorism.
• India's own historical experience on developing military technology has been unsatisfactory: security advisor

(Karachi) India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said that media’s role in creating a perception about an issue is very crucial and the country’s security agencies need to change the media policy.

Ajit Doval expressed these views while addressing a meeting of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in New Delhi on Tuesday, Indian media reported.

He said the media should be free from any influence so that the news could be highlighted purely based on facts and figures.

He maintained that security agencies should take media organizations into confidence on sensitive matters relating to terrorism. “Media is an important tool in fight against terrorism,” he stated.

While highlighting the role of the media publications and news channels, the security advisor said media has always played a pivotal role in bringing news and facts to the people. He said it is the prime responsibility of media outlets to report on sensitive issues with true information.

“It is all about perception. Since we do not tell them anything, they carry news based on speculations.”

He mentioned, “Perception management is an important part of dealing with terrorism.”

Hurling criticism on some departments of Indian government, Doval said that the officials concerned did not do anything to tackle the matter. He said whenever the government supported media organizations, they had been very supportive. “The people want to know the real thing,” he said.

Regarding technological advancement and modernization of country’s armed forces, the security advisor said, "Either you're better than your opponents or you're not there at all. In the modern world, technology and money are the two things that influence geopolitics. Who wins... and who loses... depends on which side has preponderance over adversaries on these two factors.”

He added, "Of these two, technology is more important". Doval called for "need-based" development of military technology that targeted specific requirements of the Army, Navy, Air Force and other defence services.

"India's own historical experience on this (the race to develop military technology) has been sad, we were the runner-up. There is no trophy for the runner-up," he remarked.

"India''s security vulnerabilities are much greater today and they are going to be much more greater in the times to come".

"Niche technologies are something that makes India more secure. These have to be need-based. We, with our defence services and intelligence agencies have to make hard assessments about what our needs are that will give us an edge over our adversaries," Ajit Doval said.