BJP's 'sipahi' Gajendra Chauhan says 'played 20-20 match' in FTII

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) chairman Gajendra Chauhan on Friday said he is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 'sipahi', adding his ideology is same as the saffron party.

Chauhan told ANI that the government was happy with his work and added that he did his best as the chairman of FTII.

"I feel that I have played a 20-20 match. I had to make more runs and overs were less. I had very less time and a lot of work, but I am happy that I was able to do my work..I am a 'sipahi' of BJP and whatever work they tell me to do. I will do it with all my heart. BJPs ideology is my own ideology," he said.

"The post in FTII is generally blocked for three years. I got to work for 14 months, but was appointed for 19 months. It was challenging because a lot of things were pending when I took over. 2014 and 2015 were counted as zero years. So, the challenge was to start a new batch on time. Our governing council took a lot of important decisions. And the best thing was that all decision was unanimous and was implemented. On August 1, 2014 we have started a new syllabus and we were able to start a new batch that was our first achievement," he added.

Chauhan was appointed as the FTII chairman in June 2015. However, his appointment faced heavy opposition from the students, who alleged that Chauhan didn't have the same credentials to head the prestigious institute as those of former FTII chiefs like Girish Karnard, U. Krishnamurthy and Shyam Benegal.

They alleged that Chauhan was appointed owing to his proximity with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.