FTII row: Government refuses to reconsider Gajendra Chauhan's appointment

NEW DELHI: The government today refused to yield to the demand of agitating students and alumni members of FTII-Pune for reconsidering the appointment of TV actor and BJP's Gajendra Chauhan as the head of the institute but gave number of assurances including non-interference in the functioning of the prestigious establishment.

During an hour-long meeting, I&B Minister Arun Jaitley, who met the students and alumni members including Oscar-winner Resul Pookutty and filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli of FTII-Pune, also asked them to "get back to class" and allow normal functioning of the institute.

"While the minister made it clear that there will be no rethink over the appointment of the institute head, he assured the students and alumni members that government had no intention to interfere in the working of the institute. He also assured them of all technological support to make it a national centre of excellence," an official source said.

After the meeting, Pookutty said, "While many assurances were given but the core issue for which the students were protesting has not been resolved satisfactorily."

However, he did not specify that whether they will continue with the agitation.

"We will go back to the students to decide future course of action," he said when asked whether they will continue their protest over the appointment of Chauhan.

Chauhan, who played Yudhisthira in TV serial 'Mahabharat', was appointed on June 9 as Chairman of the governing council of FTII-Pune and President of FTII Society by the I&B ministry.

The decision triggered protests among the students there as they called for a person of a higher stature to head the institution. Similar sentiments were also expressed by some of the alumni of the institution.