Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar steps up war of words with I&B Ministry

NEW DELHI: Under fire for editing out politically controversial remarks by BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from an interview, Prasar Bharati (PB) on Monday expressed helplessness at taking action against erring officials and sought an assurance from the information and broadcasting ministry that it would abide by a neutral inquiry.

Escalating the war of words between the public broadcaster and its parent ministry, PB CEO Jawhar Sircar said, "As several of Prasar Bharati's earlier recommendations on DD and AIR's news wings have not been honoured by the ministry, leading to complications, we have asked the ministry to tell us clearly whether they would abide by a neutral inquiry or not. PB has no control over the top officials in news division and the ministry has refused to part with even operational supervision. So let the ministry assure us first, and then we'll set up a fair inquiry by external professionals, not by officials." Sircar was responding to a query whether the national broadcaster was setting up an inquiry or not.

When asked about Sircar's letter, I&B Secretary Bimal Julkha said he was still to receive any communication and would take a decision after discussions with the PB CEO. The issue on fixing responsibility has become centre-stage after TOI reported that remarks made by Modi on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ahmed Patel were edited out by DD.

Meanwhile, PB member (finance) B B Pandit demitted office on Monday after waiting for three months for his resignation to be accepted by the ministry. Speaking to TOI after his resignation, Pandit said, "The decision to quit was personal as I had another assignment. I had put in my papers in January but the ministry is still to accept it."

Sources said that Pandit, a 1977 batch Indian Audit and Accounts Service officer, resigned in a huff after a significant plan on financial restructuring of Prasar Bharti was put on the backburner. Pandit, who had earlier served as deputy comptroller and auditor general in the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, had opted for an audit assignment in Afghanistan. "He found Afghanistan to be a safer place to serve," Sircar said when asked about the board member's resignation.