Writing about Clean India a service to nation: Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday thanked the media for creating awareness about the Clean India Campaign, adding that the members of the fourth estate were doing a service to the nation by writing about it.

In his first formal interaction with the media after becoming the prime minister, Modi recounted his relations with the press as a party worker, and then talked about his pet Clean India Campaign.

"I am reading so many articles on clean India. Electronic and social media is also doing a comprehensive debate on it. This is a service to the nation. This is a good example of how the media can play a constructive role," Modi said at the media meet at the BJP headquarters here.

"I know 80 percent of it is criticism, but it is spreading awareness on an issue which has tainted India's image in the world," Modi said referring to his cleanliness campaign.

He said that by virtue of these writings, an environment was being created where citizens were coming together to work hand-in-hand with the government.

"Since independence, it was believed that the government would do everything. But the media is encouraging people to work for the nation. There is now an environment where citizens are realising that all have to work together," Modi said.

"This could not have happened if just the prime minister had taken a broom in his hand," he said.

He said he has had a close association with the media and that he wants to strengthen it.

"When I interact with the media, I not only get information, but I also get a vision," Modi said.

He said that he used to once help with the seating arrangement at media meets and used to interact freely with the press, and even though times have now changed, he was looking for ways to deepen his old ties with the media.