FTII students get Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s support

The students are demanding that Chauhan and four other society members – Anagha Ghaisas, Narendra Pathak, Rahul Solapurkar and Shailesh Gupta — be removed.

FTII students during their march to Parliament on Monday. Ravi KanojiaFTII students during their march to Parliament on Monday. (Source: Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)

Students of Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) on a strike for 54 days against BJP member Gajendra Chauhan’s appointment as the chairman of the institute and other “dubious” appointments, on Tuesday got Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s support on the issue. Kejriwal expressed solidarity with the protesters after a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat.

“We had a brief meeting with Kejriwal. We explained the reasons for the strike and told him about our demands. He expressed solidarity with us and said he would think how best he could contribute to our strike,” said FTII Students’ Association secretary Vikas Urs, who was part of a three-member delegation which met Kejriwal. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia too was present at the meeting.

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“The CM and the Deputy CM discussed the issue with the students. The students’ delegation explained to them about the appointments at FTII and said they wanted the selection process to change. Kejriwal said he was with the students on the issue,” said a press statement.

Urs said Kejriwal had shown interest to meet the protesting students and added that they had reached out to other politicians as well, including BJP members. “We have approached politicians across party lines, including Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha and Prakash Javadekar from the BJP. We hope that they will respond. Since we are in Delhi for the next few days, we hope to meet as many politicians and activists as possible,” said Urs.

FTII students on Monday had marched from Jantar Mantar to Parliament Street, supported by filmmakers, theatre activists, academicians and politicians. Leaders from the JD(U), Congress, CPM, CPI, CPI-ML and NCP supported the striking students.

The students are demanding that Chauhan and four other society members – Anagha Ghaisas, Narendra Pathak, Rahul Solapurkar and Shailesh Gupta — be removed.

They are also pressing for a new committee, which will lay down the rules for appointments. After Monday’s meeting with the joint secretary of the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, the students said they were hopeful of meeting either I&B Minister Arun Jaitley or Minister of State Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore soon.

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