Resume classes, willing to discuss issues: I&B ministry to FTII students

NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry today asked agitating students of FTII to resume classes and expressed its willingness to discuss all "relevant" issues relating to the nomination of actor Gajendra Chauhan as chief of the institute's governing council.

In a letter to President of FTII's students union Harishankar Nachimuthu, the ministry said that the government exercises its prerogative to appoint members on the governing council of FTII after taking all the facts into consideration.

"You will appreciate that frequent disruptions in the academics on account of extraneous and collateral factors digress from the overall objective. You are, therefore, requested to use your good offices so that the academic session is resumed at the earliest," the ministry said.

"In case there are any discussions needed for this, the ministry is willing to discuss all relevant issues with any person," the letter added.

The ministry was responding to a letter written by the Students' Association of FTII to I&B Minister Arun Jaitley in which they had sought his intervention on the issue.

The ministry also sought to assure the students that it is fully conscious of the fact that the credibility of FTII should be strengthened by the quality of its governance and training.

The letter, signed by Deputy Secretary Deepak Kumar, said that the ministry believed that FTII is an important institution and the quality of its education and training has to be strengthened.

"The ministry is also of the opinion that the academic environment and discipline at the institute needs to be fully restored," it added.

There have been protests by students at the premier Pune- based institute after the I&B ministry announced its decision to appoint Chauhan, who is known for his role as 'Yudhishthir' in the TV serial 'Mahabharat', at the President of the FTII Society and chairman of its Governing Council.