FTII students seek removal of Pahlaj Nihalani as censor chief

DELHI: Students of FTII, Pune have reacted strongly to Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani calling them "anti nationals" and have asked for his resignation.

Nihalani had told ET on Monday (Read earlier report) that he plans to make a film on the "failure of FTII." The film, he said will expose the "Anti national" students and show how they have been using government resources but working against the government

In a statement issued by FTII students Association the students have urged MoS (I & B) Rajyavardhan Rathore to seek the resignation of Nilhani both from Censor Board ( CBFC) and FTII society for calling the students of FTII anti-nationals.

As the head of CBFC, Nihalani is also part of FTII society.

"Yesterday, in an interview given to an English National Daily, Pahlaj Nihlani, the Censor Board Chairman made some highly condemnable statements against FTII students and alumni. We humbly call upon the respected members of the film fraternity to take this issue up with utmost seriousness and save Indian Cinema from the clutches of such autocrats," the statement said.

The students have called Nihalani 'The Propaganda Machine' of the current government, "who in his free time makes terrible and unintentionally funny propaganda films for the Prime Minister, sneaking them in between intervals of films running in theaters across now."

Having an "autocratic" member in the Governing Council such as Nihalani "along with the other five contentious members is extremely unhealthy and highly condemnable," the statement said.

Kislay, member of FTII students Association, said Nihalani 's statements vindicated their agitation. " He has proved that he is a stooge of the government, not an unbiased CBFC head. This shows our struggle against the government appointing people with no vision at reputed institutes is justified."

FTII students who struck classes for over four months to protest against the appointment of BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as the institute's chairman have now decided to have a separate screening of their movies at International Film Festival of India, Goa starting on November 20, as a continuation of their protest.