Nagpur:
Salman Khan supports the students of Film and Television Institute of India and FTII Chairman Gajendra Chauhan to step down from the position of the Chairman.
Yes! You read it right. According to the latest buzz, students from Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) who had been demanding the removal FTII Chairman Gajendra Chauhan since past two months now. Undoubtedly, Salman Khan was the first actor who came forward in support the students who had been facing rustication opposing the actor and asked Gajendra Chauhan to step down the seat.
Salman said the “Mahabharat” star should pay heed to the students and resign from the post. The Bollywood heart-throb’s support came a day after the institute warned the agitating students to end the strike or face.
Indian director and screen writer Shyam Benegal claimed that protesting FTII students should talk to Gajendra Chauhan.
Bhaijaan during the interview said that Gajendra should listen to the students and step down.
Gajendra, best known for playing Yudhishthir in epic TV series Mahabharata apart from a series of B and C grade films, hit back, saying it is for the government to decide whether he should go or not.
The chorus against appointment of Chauhan has grown louder with most filmmakers and actors, including BJP sympathisers, saying he should step down. Celebrated cinematographer Santhosh Sivan, actor Pallavi Joshi and National Award-winning filmmaker Jahnu Barua have resigned as members of the FTII Society in support of the striking students.
Film personalities like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Anupam Kher, Rishi Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Amol Palekar, Resul Pookutty, Kiran Rao, Rajkummar Rao, Sudhir Mishra, Sayeed Mirza, Kundan Shah and Piyush Mishra among others have voiced their opposition to Chauhan’s appointment.
The main demand of the FSA, supported by many members of the FTII alumni, is removal of Chauhan as chairman and reconstitution of the FTII Society which elects the institution’s governing council. The students claim that Chauhan, a BJP member, lacks credentials, vision and stature to head the institute, expected to shape the future prospects of the Indian cinema and film industry.
Asked if the FSA would be ready for a compromise on their demands in case invited for a second round of talks with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Urs said, “This is a hypothetical question. We will be taking our decisions depending on the government’s response and outcome of the dialogue.”
The earlier talks between the FSA and Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley held in New Delhi on July 3 to discuss the students’ demands had proved unfruitful. Urs said the students, though on strike to register their protest, had not indulged in any unlawful activities on the campus, therefore the warning of disciplinary action and rustication is unjustified.
Meanwhile, the FTII Teachers’ Association has sent a letter to the Ministry requesting it to take steps to end the current impasse as it is affecting the academic activities of the course.
