NEW DELHI, MARCH 13: The Prasar Bharati board today bailed out Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan by saying they had no direct experience of any interference in Doordarshan and All India Radio.But addressing a press conference after a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, they said that there was no question of a debate on autonomy, as it would be going against the tide of history. ``We are sure our talk with the Prime Minister will have a good effect,'' said a hopeful Abid Hussain, who is the acting chairman. He said Vajpayee gave them a patient hearing and though he did not commit on a definite date for the appointment of a Chairman, CEO, Members (Finance and Personnel) and one part-time member, he had ``taken note of our anxieties''.Explaining why the board took so long to make an issue of autonomy, noted writer and board member Rajendra Yadav said recently there had been a talk of autonomy for the Board being debated. ``That is why we felt it was necessary to put ourcase to the PM,'' he added.Hussain, however, said they felt it was time to build the pressure only because the selection committee given the responsibility to choose the board members was in place. Hussain said: ``I am told the terms and conditions have now been clearly worked out and we will soon get a Chairman and CEO.''Acting CEO O P Kejriwal who was also present insisted that there was only an ``interaction between the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Prasar Bharati which is unfortunately being projected as interference''.
