FTII students to protest against Chauhan's appoiintment at Jantar Mantar today

Over 80 agitating students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) will be holding a protest march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament Street today against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the Pune-based institute's chief.

The youth Congress is also likely to join the protest.

Meanwhile, the strike called by the FTII students has entered its 52nd day.

The FTII students association had sent a letter to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore yesterday requesting him to start a positive dialogue on the issue.

The students have been protesting against Chauhan's appointment due to his affiliation to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his lack of experience and stature. A billboard at the entrance of the institute had earlier asked Chauhan to resign and leave.

Other student groups have been protesting against the decision as well, with organisations like the AISA encouraging Chauhan to quit.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who recently visited the institute, had backed the students and accused the government of suppressing their wishes. He had also asked the ruling dispensation to hear the students' grievances in wake of the controversy over Chauhan's appointment.

Chauhan was appointed to the top post on June 9 this year.