With the growing importance of new information technology and social media tools like Twitter and Facebook, India has asked the United Nations to treat digital media at par with traditional media.

"It is important not to treat the digital media, which in many countries caters to a different segment of society, differently from the traditional media, as that would be divisive," Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien, who represented India, said at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Among traditional media tools, radio holds a special place as it is still recognised as a major source of information and is widely used in the developing world, he said while addressing delegates in the Special Political and Decolonisation committee.

"We are of the opinion that there is need to raise awareness about the importance of radio, and enhance international cooperation for improving and diversifying the content of radio broadcasts," the Rajya Sabha MP said, a copy of whose speech was made available to the media today.