NEW DELHI: Expressing "shock" over police crackdown in Pune's Film and Television Institute of India, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today offered to provide space to agitating students for their classes in the capital.
The Delhi government is even ready to convert the temporary arrangement into a full-fledged institute, Kejriwal said.
"Am shocked to hear whats going on at FTII. An internationally reputed institute being systematically destroyed by govt's wrong decisions.
"My offer to FTII students -- Del govt can provide u temp space in Del. Run ur classes here till central govt agrees If finally, central govt doesn't agree, we'll convert this place into full fledged institute n students can continue studying here only," the Chief Minister said in a series of tweets.
In a midnight swoop, police arrested five students of FTII in Pune, charging them with rioting and other offences in connection with the gherao of director Prashant Pathrabe.
The students, who are on strike for the last 69 days against appointment of BJP member and TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as the institute chairman, had gheraoed Pathrabe on Monday evening, challenging his decision to go ahead with the assessment of the incomplete diploma film projects of the 2008 batch.
The accused students have been charged under various sections of IPC dealing with offences relating to unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and rioting.