FTII row: ‘No progress’ in talks, strike to continue

A meeting held in Mumbai between students of Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and government officials on Tuesday on the simmering row over the appointment of a BJP functionary as the chairman of the premier film school remained inconclusive.

A meeting held in Mumbai between students of Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and government officials on Tuesday on the simmering row over the appointment of a BJP functionary as the chairman of the premier film school remained inconclusive.

Students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) putting up placards at Azad Maidan during their protest demanding removal of the institute chairman Gajendra Chauhan, in Mumbai.(PTI)

While further talks have been guaranteed, the strike will also continue. Another meeting has been scheduled for Thursday.

“The ministry (representatives) will come back on Thursday to further discuss on this issue. The government has given no assurance and neither have the students done so. The talks are still on. The strike is still on,” FTII Students’ Association president Harishankar Nachimuthu told the media in Mumbai post the meeting.

“There is no difference (progress) between (since) the last meeting and today’s meeting,” Nachimuthu said, adding the ministry officials “heard out the concerns in more detail”.

He also hoped that a “decision can be arrived at on Thursday”.

The students on Sunday had called off their 18-day-long hunger strike in response to the government inviting them for a dialogue to resolve their demands.

FTII students have been protesting since June 12 to oppose the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as the institute’s chairperson. Chauhan has been accused of lacking “stature” and “vision”. They have also been questioning other appointments to the FTII council which students claim have been politically influenced.

Read | FTII students, govt holding talks in Mumbai to end logjam