NEW DELHI: The hue and cry raised by students of Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has not affected the Centre as it gave indication that the government is not ready to rescind Gajendra Chauhan’s appointment as the chairman of the prestigious institute.
The agitating students along with FTII alumni, including Oscar-winner Resul Pookutty and filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli, who met Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday was assured that the government had no intention of interfering in the working of the institution and would extend all help in its expansion.
Nonetheless, Jaitley made it clear that there will be no rethink on the appointment of the institute head.
“While the minister made it clear that Chauhan’s appointment won’t be cancelled, he assured the students and alumni that the government had no intention to interfere in the working of the institute. He also assured them of all technological support to make FTII a national centre of excellence,” government sources said.
Emerging from the meeting, Pookutty said, “While many assurances were given, but the core issue for which the students were protesting has not been resolved satisfactorily.”
“We will go back to the students to decide the future course of action,” Pookutty said.
The students have been protesting against Chauhan’s appointment saying he was not fit to hold such a prestigious post.
Pookutty said they had suggested a five-point agenda which included setting up of an Interim Committee and the minister assured that these demands would be considered.
“There are concerns of students conducting themselves within and outside the campus, the other one was future of the institution and of course constitution of the present society is quite skewed because just five members are from the acting field, the whole diversity has not met in constituting the society, that was another aspect,” Pookutty told reporters.
Meanwhile, the students took their protest to Delhi as they staged a demonstration outside Shastri Bhavan that houses the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.