Pune: Protests by students of the country's premier film school Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the institute's chairman has entered the fifth day. Students have expressed dissent against Chuahan as they think he is not qualified to take over as the chief. Chauhan, who is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has brought the Narendra Modi government under attack.
As students of the FTII remained unrelenting in their demand for removal of the actor from the post, Chauhan, best known for his portrayal of Yudhishtir in mega TV serial Mahabharat, alleged that the protests were "politically motivated" and whipped up by someone for his own personal interest.
Chauhan said he was against the protest by the students and regretted that questions were being raised about his capabilities without knowing him. The actor said he was willing to discuss the issue with the striking students. He also said that the students should give him an opportunity to prove himself first before protesting.
"To raise a question on my capability is wrong because they don't know anything about me apart from what they have read on Facebook, media etc. To raise a question on me is wrong," he said.
Members of the film industry are also speaking up against Chauhan's appointment. Lending his support to the students, actor Om Puri said, "I don't know the credentials of Mr Chauhan. Autonomous doesn't mean the government should not participate but it's a request to the government that they should take someone who is from cinema for this post."
'Swaraj Abhiyan' leader Yogendra Yadav, also visited the institute to support the students' "just demands". Yadav alleged that Modi government does not understand the word 'autonomy' and this is not the first institution where "autonomy is being eroded" by it.
"It is not mere a question of saffronisation, the real question is of degradation of all institutions where people without necessary qualification are being appointed," the former AAP leader said.
This is an assault on the finest institution of the country which is not in the interest of the nation, he said. Yadav said the earlier government also did the same thing, but the present government has "hit the rock bottom."
Among film personalities to pledge support to the agitation was documentary-maker Anand Patwardhan, who visited the campus and said he was "glad that students stood up against increasing politicisation of institutions by current government. I know what is happening throughout the country and I am not surprised by this trend," he said.
The FTII students' association has alleged that Chauhan does not have "vision and stature" of his eminent predecessors to merit his posting by the government. The association president Harishankar Nachimuthu said that they will wait till a reply is received but added that that the strike will continue till the demand is
met.
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