Amidst controversy and opposition, renowned TV anchor and host Satinder Satti has been selected chairperson of the prestigious cultural body — Punjab Arts Council — on Tuesday. The decision came a month after the Punjab Government approved Satti’s appointment to one of the top three posts of the Council.
Punjab Government’s move to appoint Satti in the esteemed council had left the Punjabi intellectuals and artists upset and shocked which describing the same as “an insult to the Council's rich legacy”.
It was then alleged that Satti managed to find a place in the Council owing to her close relations with the State Government. Her appointment was shunned by State’s intelligentsia claiming that her stature does not equate the personalities like Dr MS Randhawa, Dr Sardar Anjum, KS Virk and Dr Kartar Singh Duggal, who had represented the council earlier.
In the face of questions being raised about her stature, Punjab Government went on to appoint multi-talented Satti as Council’s chairperson, while Surinder Singh Virdi and Punjabi writer lakhwinder Johal have been appointed Council’s vice-chairman and secretary general, respectively.
Notably, a panel of three names was sent to Government for approval and appointment on the three posts. The Government acted on expected lines and appointed Satti as the body’s head.
Rumours were that the Government had already shortlisted Satti's name for the coveted post.
The decision to appoint new office bearers was taken in a meeting of Council’s general body in Chandigarh’s Sector-16 Kala Bhawan on Tuesday.
The term of the chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary-general of the council ended in mid-August.
As per the norms, the Council's general body simply accepts the names approved by the Government for the three posts.