Prasar Bharati may get a new CEO soon

Speculation about Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar being eased out by the end of 2016 gained currency on Friday with sources in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry indicating that Sunil Arora, a former I&B Secretary, may be appointed to the post.

The Prasar Bharati CEO is considered a key post in the I&B Ministry as the individual is responsible for running state-owned Doordarshan and public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR).

A section of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders was not happy with the manner Doordarshan and AIR discharged its responsibilities, especially the handling of current affairs programmes.

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

Arora was recently appointed as an advisor in Prasar Bharati.

There have been reports lately about a purported move by the government to appoint a new CEO to replace Sircar, who had retired as Union Culture Secretary and was appointed to the key post during erstwhile Congress-led UPA government in 2012.

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

Sircar reportedly also had differences with the I&B Ministry when the Modi government launched DD Kisan, a channel dedicated to farm affairs.

--IANS

nd/lok/vd