Govt appoints RSS mouthpiece ex-editor NBT chief

The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has appointed Baldev Sharma, former editor of RSS mouthpiece “Panchjanya”, as the new chairman of the National Book Trust (NBT).

A Sethumadhavan, who held the post, was forced to quit six months before his term was due to expire. A veteran Malayalam fiction-writer, Sethumadhavan was appointed NBT chairman for a three-year term on September 6, 2012. He tendered his resignation two days ago reportedly after a senior HRD Ministry official asked him to quit.

“I resigned two days ago, and got a confirmation about the acceptance today (Monday). I had received a call from an HRD Ministry official two days ago informing me that the government would like to appoint a new NTB chairman,” Sethumadhavan told Deccan Herald.
Making it clear that he did not want to cling on to the post, he said his “culture” was not to make a fuss about such things. “I have held very important positions over the past 40 years,” he said.

Asked about the way he was removed, Sethu, as he is popularly known in Kerala, said personally he was least bothered: “The government is well within its right to appoint anybody. The appointment letter also says they can remove me. I only feel perhaps they should have done it after six months.”

The HRD Ministry had earlier forced out National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) chief Praveen Sinclair halfway through her term.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, director Raghunath K Shevgaonkar also tendered his resignation halfway into his five-year tenure last December following consistent pressure from HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who was upset with him for many reasons, including non-settlement of arrears of Rs 70 lakh of former IIT faculty and now BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.

The ministry, however, did not take any decision on Shevgaonkar’s resignation as a probe initiated by the ministry into his role in supporting Mauritius to set up an international institute of technology in the country backfired. Shevgaonkar resumed his duties after remaining on leave for a few days. 

Though the HRD Ministry remained incommunicado, new NBT chairman Sharma, also a former journalist, confirmed his appointment.

“Yes, the ministry has appointed me as the new NBT chairperson. I got a communication from the ministry in this regard today (Monday) evening,” he said.Asked about his priorities as the new NBT chief, he said, “I cannot say anything on this at this point. I can share with you my priorities only after I join.”