Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Friday emphasized that meaningful dialogue is central to a healthy democracy, stating that discussion, debate, and even dissent should contribute to the national interest rather than cause disruption. He made these remarks while serving as Chief Guest at the 20th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards held in New Delhi.

He noted that the exchange of ideas, questioning of assumptions, and respectful acceptance of differing opinions are essential for refining policies and ensuring decisions gain legitimacy. According to him, such engagement should ultimately guide decision-making in the nation’s interest, not lead to instability.

Paying homage to publisher Ramnath Goenka, the Vice-President recalled the historic moment during the Emergency when The Indian Express carried a blank editorial as a mark of press freedom and courage. He said the awards, now in their 20th year, celebrate Goenka’s legacy of fearless journalism.

Radhakrishnan also spoke about the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, highlighting that lifting 25 crore people out of poverty stands out as a major milestone. He stressed the need for inclusive development and referred to the Prime Minister’s call at last year’s Ramnath Goenka Memorial Lecture to move beyond colonial-era mindsets, noting that this remains a continuing challenge. The awards were presented by the Vice-President in the presence of Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Express Group Chairman Viveck Goenka spoke about the changing nature of journalism, stating that future journalists must combine technical expertise with strong human insight. He emphasized the importance of reaching audiences across platforms while staying committed to journalism’s core purpose—informing citizens rather than taking sides.

Chief Editor of The Indian Express, Raj Kamal Jha, highlighted that true journalism is about uncovering stories that may be hidden or uncomfortable, particularly those that people in power may not want revealed. He added that trust is built not by telling audiences what they wish to hear, but by presenting the truth. The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Lok Sabha MPs Anil Manish Tewari, Anil Baluni, and Rajeev Kumar Rai; Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Shukla; BJP leader Rajendra Agarwal; CPI General Secretary D. Raja; lawyer and politician Ashwani Kumar; and Mongolian Ambassador Ganbold Dambajav.