[cr-india] NEWS: Scientist quits as head of Prasar Bharati board

[Frederick Noronha]

Scientist quits as head of Prasar Bharati board

>From Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS) Eminent scientist U.R. Rao has resigned as head of
India's autonomous broadcasting corporation Prasar Bharati Corporation,
which operates state-owned television and radio, citing a clash of
interests.

Rao, who had taken up the job only in October, quit because he is also a
consultant with a private company, a "broadcasting competitor". His term was
to end in 15 months.

"I am a consultant in technical aspects with many companies," Rao said from
Bangalore. "I have decided to quit to avoid any controversy."

The globally renowned scientist was earlier a part-time member of the Prasar
Bharati board, which oversees the Doordarshan television network and All
India Radio.

Sources said veteran editor B.G. Verghese, a board member, could temporarily
take charge as chairman until a permanent replacement for Rao is found.

Rao once worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation when President
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam too worked there.

Rao is also adviser to the Department of Space and the National Physical
Laboratory.

Set up in 1990, Prasar Bharati has often hogged headlines for problems with
its bigwigs.

Chief executive officer (CEO) S.S. Gill was forced out in 1998 reportedly
due to differences with Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj.
He later sued the government for being forced to quit but lost.

His successor R.R. Shah too did not last long. The next CEO Anil Baijal, a
career bureaucrat, met the same fate.

When chairman Nikhil Chakravartty died in 1999, the government made no move
to fill the post.

In 1999, two members, Romila Thapar and Rajendra Yadav, who were perceived
as leftist, were unceremoniously retired from the board. At that time, the
board had only a third of its stipulated strength of 15.

Critics alleged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) had them sacked to push a Hindu rightwing ideology.

During 2000-01, Prasar Bharati operated without a chairman, a full-time
chief executive and directors-general for Doordarshan or All India Radio,
among others.

In October, retired Lt.Gen. M.A. Zaki, journalist Vidya Nivas Mishra and S.
Kasipandian were appointed part-time members of the board.

Vice-president Krishan Kant, who died on July 27, had chaired the selection
committee that made the appointments.

--Indo-Asian News Service