PM gets on to Twitter to be more close to public

Tweeting, once described by a senior cabinet minister as non-serious, has reached the country’s top-most executive office.

In an attempt to counter Opposition’s criticism of maintaining silence over critical issues and being inaccessible to the media, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has joined the microblogging site Twitter to inform people about the work done by his office.

Opining about the new media foray, sources in PMO said “the prime minister’s work should be in the public domain so that people know that the government is functioning for their benefit.” The Twitter account of the PMO will provide regular updates on Manmohan Singh’ programmes and his work in near real time.

“In future, there will be more information available immediately to the media,” the sources said. The prime minister’s twitter account had four tweets by Tuesday evening and more than 10,000 followers had joined him. The new media venture by the PMO comes in the wake of TV journalist Pankaj Pachauri taking over as Communications Adviser to the prime minister.

“The Prime Minister’s Office is now on Twitter @PMOIndia. Thank you for your support,” said  Pankaj Pachauri on his own Twitter account.