New Delhi, October 3: Mann Ki Baat producer Manohar Singh Rawat was among the seven top officials of the All India Radio who skipped a key meeting called today to plan the 50th edition of Prime Minister's monthly address.

Rawat, along with the six top officials, instead participated in an agitation called by AIR employees against the stagnation of their ranks. The demonstration, held at Jantar Mantar, was called by the Programme Staff Association All India Radio and Doordarshan. Mann Ki Baat: PM Narendra Modi hails Indian Armed Forces For Bravery; Remembers Surgical Strike on Parakram Parv.

Speaking to The National Herald, Rawat said standing in solidarity with the AIR employees was more essential than attending the meeting on Mann Ki Baat's 50th anniversary.

"My demands are no different from those of others, who have been protesting against the government’s apathy," he said, adding that in a career spanning for 31 years, his first and probably the last promotion came when he completed his 10th year in service.

Vice president of the association, Santosh Nahar, said the issue has been recurring under the tenure of successive governments. Since AIR and DD were taken over by Prasar Bharti in 1997, deliberate attempts were made to keep posts vacant and delay the promotion of employees.

Nahar said their demonstration at Jantar Mantar today was directed against the incumbent in-charges at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting who have not paid heed to their grievances. Notably, the I&B Ministry is currently headed by BJP leader Rajyavardhan Rathore.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2018 09:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).