Hope to be back home before winter: Prasar Bharati CEO

Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, who is reportedly being replaced by the NDA government, on Saturday evening gave fresh credence to the speculation as he posted on social media that he "hopes" to be back home before winter.

"Too many queries, since 4 news today: let me clear the air, to friends. This one is closest to truth: I hope to be back home before winter. Retire after 41+ years: to read, write and relate," Sircar posted on social networking site Facebook.

There has been strong speculation that Sircar, appointed in 2012 by the Congress-led Manmohan Singh government, is being eased out by the year end. Officials in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry indicated to IANS on Friday that Sunil Arora, a former I&B secretary, may be appointed to the post.

The CEO, Prasar Bharati is considered a key post with autonomous powers as the individual is responsible for running state-owned Doordarshan and public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR). Prasar Bharati is itself however, headed by a chairman.

A section of BJP leaders were not happy with the manner Doordarshan and AIR discharged their responsibilities especially in the context of current affairs programmes under Sircar.

"Arora is an experienced hand and he can easily fit into the Prasar Bharati CEO post," a source said on Friday.

Arora was recently appointed as an advisor in Prasar Bharati.

Sources also said that Sircar, whose tenure ends in February 2017, has told I&B ministry officials of his desire to relinquish the post before the end of 2016.

Sircar, who had retired as Secretary Culture in the Union government in 2012, reportedly first developed differences with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry when the Modi government launched the Kisan Channel on DD dedicated to farm affairs.

--IANS

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