Expressing disappointment with government's response to their demand, students of the FTII decided to continue their strike which entered the 24th day today till TV actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan's appointment as its chairman is cancelled.
Amid dramatic scenes and vociferous demonstrations by the Film and Television Institute of India students, television actor and Bharatiya Janata Party member Gajendra Chauhan on Thursday took charge as chairman of the premiere institute in Pune, even as police detained nearly 40 protesters who were calling him a "political appointee".
A second round of talks in Mumbai on Thursday between the striking FTII students and I&B Ministry officials failed to break the deadlock.
An FTII students' body representative said they will not sacrifice academics anymore for a government that is "deaf and a bully".
TV actor Gajendra Chauhan is expected to take charge as FTII chairman on Thursday after an unprecedented and unsuccessful 193-day strike by the students opposing his appointment.
Yet another round of talks on Tuesday failed to end the standoff between the government and FTII students over the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as its Chairman, with the students alleging "unwillingness or inability" of the authorities to act upon their core concerns.
This is Gajendra Chauhan's resume: ...an actor who is best known for his portrayal of the eldest Pandava 'Yudhishthira' in the Mahabharat (TV series). He has worked in around 150 movies and over 600 TV serials
The students said they would withdraw their hunger strike to pave way for a dialogue with the government if the I&B ministry confirmed a date for talks to resolve their demands including removal of actor Gajendra Chauhan from the institute's chairmanship.
...Because the students have made our industry worthy, Salman Khan explains.
The agitating FTII students on Sunday called off their 18-day-old "hunger strike" in response to the government's communication inviting them for a dialogue.
When contacted, Pathrabe had told PTI earlier in the evening that he had been gheraoed by the students, but was "safe".
Deadlock over the appointment of TV actor and Bharatiya Janata Party member Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India's governing council entered the sixteenth day on Saturday
The meeting will take place at the office of the Films Division in Mumbai at 11 am on Tuesday, Vikas Urs, spokesman of the FTII Students' Association, told PTI.
The ongoing strike of Film and Television Institute of India students to protest the government's appointment of TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of its governing council entered its 12th day Tuesday with no immediate solution in sight.
The students will now be meeting Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore next week.
The govt also said that there would be no rethink on the government's decision of appointing Gajendra Chauhan as chairman.
Unfazed by warning of disciplinary action and rustication, the striking students of Film and Television Institute of India on Thursday said the protest, now on for 35 days, will continue till the government responds to their demands, including removal of TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as its chairman.
I&B ministry refuses to respond to striking FTII students, who insist that Gajendra Chauhan has to go.
About 150 students gathered on the campus on Sunday to gather support for their agitation.
'I will try to make sure everything runs smoothly from now on.' Is Gajendra Chauhan having the last laugh?
10 frontline filmmakers announced their decision to return the prestigious National Awards over the government's "apathy" in addressing the students issues and the environment of intolerance.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi told protesting Film and Television Institute of India students in Pune on Friday that the National Democratic Alliance regime is trying to undermine the institution.
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