PUNE: Reacting to the Union government’s negligence over the demand of terminating actor Gajendra Chauhan’s appointment as chairperson, students at Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) threatened to go on hunger strike. Supreme Court declined to intervene in the raging controversy.

Over a hundred students of the prestigious film school have been protesting for almost three months over Chauhan’s pro-BJP leanings. Protesting students mentioned that Chauhan didn’t have the stature to head the institute like FTII.

The ongoing dispute have grabbed national attention and support from Congress. Students from other cities and film personalities are also speaking out against the government’s move.

“The students will go on indefinite hunger strike if our demands are not met by the government. There is no option left,” FTII Students’ Association (FSA) representative Vikas Urs told media but didn’t set a date for the strike.

The top court refused to hear a public interest litigation filed by SC lawyer Vineet Dhanda, who alleged the Centre was not taking effective steps to bring back normalcy.

“The more disturbing part besides the strike, started by students almost 82 days ago, is the dragging of students into politics by various political parties, thereby complicating the simple issue into an unsolvable problem at present,” the PIL said.

Prepared by Newsnet intern Ravi Ranjan Kumar 

  education, India, interns