Mamata voices support for protesting FTII students

KOLKATA: Sharpening her attack on Narendra Modi government, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today said that she supports the student movement at FTTI, Pune. Even though, Banerjee and her party colleagues preferred to remain silent on Lalit Modi issue, this time, Banerjee said that the central government must resolve the FTTI issue soon.

“The central government must resolve the prevailing unrest situation at FTII Pune. They must take students and teachers into confidence. Political purpose should not stand in the way; institutions are above everything,” she tweeted today. Adding that she supports the student movement, Banerjee said, “Since I was associated with student movements in the past, I respect student movement. I support their genuine cause always.”

Meanwhile, black flags were shown to Banerjee today when she was on her way to Presidency University to attend a programme. Reacting to the incident, Banerjee later said, “In democracy, courtesy is a very important factor. We must adhere to discipline. Anybody can raise question. But why should students question me? Do I need to answer them whether I would come here or not? I am answerable to the head of the institution and not the students.”

Banerjee further announced that the state government has approved the second campus of Presidency University in Rajarhat. “We are allotting Rs 10 Crore for renovation of current campus and Rs 1.8 Crore for up-gradation of library. We are giving approval for financial assistance to Presidency University for Newtown campus.”