The conduct of the media should be above board and the highest standards of ethics should be professed always, President Pranab Mukherjee said in Kottayam, Kerala on Saturday.

Invoking a verse from Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali– “where the knowledge is free…where words come out from the depth of truth”, the President said there should be conducive atmosphere for ensuring freedom of speech.

He stressed that the media had an important responsibility in ensuring freedom of expression for the citizens and it owed accountability to the nation.

“In our country, freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution and the influence, credibility and quality of our media is well recognised. But freedom of expression can never be guaranteed only through legal rights and enactments. “It must be ensured under conducive atmosphere,” Mukherjee said in his speech during the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Malayala Manorama group in Kottayam.

The President said media has an important role to play in cleansing public life.

“However, to undertake this role the conduct of the media should be above board. “It must be always kept in mind that ends and means are both important. The highest standards of ethics must be maintained at all times and for all,” he said.

Kerala Governor H R Bhardwaj, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Union Telcom Minister Kapil Sibal were also present on the occasion.