FTII protest against government to continue at international film festivals

NEW DELHI: Students of the Film and Televison Institute of India who ended their four-month strike on Wednesday have said that their protest against the government's 'saffron' appointments will be taken to international film festivals and upcoming events such as children’s film festival in the coming days. The students have also planned a parallel film festival which will showcase films made on the FTII protest during these events to keep the struggle alive.

FTII students told ET that they had decided to call off the strike after their meeting with minister of state for information and broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Rahore, in New Delhi on October 20. The issue was discussed at a council meeting of FTII students thereafter, wherein it was decided to “end the strike but strengthen the protest.”

“After the meeting with the MoS, we realised the government was not ready to reconsider any of its decisions. Ministry officials clearly told us appointments were not their mandate. Even after several meetings, there was no solution.

That's when we decided there was no point in abstaining from classes,” said Kislay Gonsalves, part of the FTII student association. However, the protest against the government’s decisions to ‘saffronise’ appointments will continue, students said, adding that the international festivals were on their minds.