At FTII, Rahul says democratic institutions are target of BJP govt

About 250 students on strike since June 12 demanding removal of actor Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of governing council

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today visited Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune and declared his support to the students. Around 250 FTII students have been on strike since June 12 demanding the removal of actor Gajendra Chauhan, as chairman of the film institute's governing council.

Expressing his solidarity with the agitating students, Rahul Gandhi said, "This is not being done only in your institution. There is a consistent assault on India's academic and democratic institutions by the government at the Centre and is happening across the board. The RSS and its sister organisations are systematically promoting mediocrity."

He added that if prime minister Narendra Modi has decided on Gajendra Chauhan, no one can change that in BJP.

Addressing over 70 students at FTII campus, Rahul further said, "They will say you are anti-national, anti-Hindu. They are scared of you.That is the nature of a bully. Calling people anti-national or anti-Hindu are the techniques to shut you up.The government cannot upset the peace of mind of the students The real question is, how strongly are you willing to fight this issue and I am ready to fight with you.There is no one more powerful than you."

Meanwhile, BJP workers with black flags protested against the visit of Rahul Gandhi outside FTII campus, raising slogans against him.

Several filmmakers, academics, actors, journalists and artistes have supported the FTII students on this issue. Talks with Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on July 3 were failed and hence students continued to boycott academic work. On Monday, around 100 students from the institute will hold a protest march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament House in New Delhi.