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Congress-led coalition govt. looks to de-saffronise Prasar Bharati
NEW DELHI: The new Congress-led coalition government would like to de-saffronise Prasar Bharati, which would mean that people owing allegiance to it and other allies of the Congress would find a place on the board of the organisation that runs Doordarshan and All India Radio.
Though the chairman of Prasar Bharati, MV Kamath, has been an erudite and well-known editor of several prestigious publications of India, he is likely to be one of the first target as he is also the softest one owing to his self-confessed close relationship with RSS, the parent organisation of the
Bharatiya Janata Party that led the previous coalition government.
Because Prasar Bharati, in its present form, did not exist when Congress was last at the helm of powers in Delhi, it is still not clear what would be the reaction of the new government to the board that is manning India’s pubcasters.There is, however, no weapon in the Prasar Bharati Act that could compel the new government to remove Kamath, who got a nod for a second six-year term some time back, unless (unlikely) charges of grave nature are brought against him.
What the government can do, if it’s desperate on Kamath, is to put pressure on him on health grounds that he would not be able to continue discharging his duties because of medical infirmities.
That Kamath recently met with an accident and is still said to be recovering from it could give the new government enough ammunition to put pressure on him to quit voluntarily.
But Prasar Bharati sources indicate that there could be several changes in the organisation once the new government gets down to the nitty-gritty’s of governance and filling up key posts with ‘friendly’ people.
In the Prasar Bharati board, three posts are vacant that can be filled up by like-, minded people by the new government.
These post fell vacant due to the exit of veteran journalist BG Verghese, regarded as one of the best board members for his outspokenness, VN Misra and former defence personnel Zaki. The last two were said to be close to the ruling BJP.
It is also not clear whether artiste Bhupen Hazarika, who contested a parliamentary seat on a BJP ticket and lost, would continue as a board member.
One person, who may come under some cloud, but come out unscathed, is Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma.
A career bureaucrat from Andhra Pradesh – where TDP’s techno-savvy Chandrababu Naidu lorded over till recently before a virus called Congress struck his governance fatally – Sarma is likely to continue if government sources are to be believed. Speaking on Sarma’s mercurial qualities, a senior information and broadcasting ministry official said, “If we know him (Sarma) well, he’d strike a good rapport with the new I&B minister too.”
All in all, even if a tornado does not hit the Prasar Bharati, some changes are likely to be effected, which, in normal course, could be expected from any new regime.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
