The Honorable Minister of Information Hasanul Haq Inu, MP reassured citizens that “criticizing an individual journalist is not an attack on mass media, just as criticizing the government is not the end of democracy.” He stressed his support for free expression and the important role that mass media plays in a democracy. He said, “Media and Democracy go hand in hand and therefore if we want to build a democratic society, we must protect the rights and independence of the media.”