Prize Moments

It was an evening that celebrated the highest ethics of journalism-the ability to report fearlessly.

The fourth RNG awards raised a toast to the spirit of fearless journalism

It was an evening that celebrated the highest ethics of journalism-the ability to report fearlessly. As the Ramnath Goenka Awards were given away on Thursday,a distinguished gathering of politicians,diplomats,policy makers and doyens of the corporate world stood up to applaud that spirit. Their presence at Tajs Durbar Hall was fitting for a ceremony that awards excellence. President Pratibha Patil handed over the prizes in a ceremony presided over by MS Swaminathan,father of Indias Green Revolution.

Among those present in the front row were Home Minister P Chidambaram,BJP leader L K Advani and Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Unique Identification Authority chairman Nandan Nilekani was seen with Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja,MPs Sachin Pilot and Deependra Hooda and BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad pepped up the evening by intervening during a panel discussion on paid news that followed the awards ceremony. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia,Minister of State for Petroleum and Gas Jitin Prasada and Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari were present too. Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi made a forceful point during the panel discussion when he said there was little the EC could do about paid news and that the media should take the lead. Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik,Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma,French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont were among the guests. Heart surgeon Naresh Trehan,his wife Madhu Trehan,lawyer Raian Karanjawala and writer Mark Tully put in an appearance.

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