FTII stir continues, next meeting on October 10

FTII students, on strike for over 100 days, on Wednesday failed to reach a conclusion in the third meeting with information and broadcasting ministry officials. Another round of talks in a bid to end the impasse will be held on Saturday.

The meeting, held at the Films Division office here, to find a solution to the row over the appointment of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), was attended by information and broadcasting ministry secretary Sunil Arora as well.

FTII Students' Association president Harishankar Nachimuthu told IANS: "Regarding the main issue of the appointment, nothing came out of the meeting. We will meet the secretary on October 10.

"This was the first time that we met the secretary, and we briefed him about our issues so that he can understand them better."

Nachimuthu said it was a pleasant meeting as the secretary heard their grievances.

Now, they are also hoping to meet Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. This might happen next week.

Over 250 FTII students have been on a strike for over the last three months as they find the appointment of Chauhan, best known for essaying the eldest Pandava brother Yudhisthir in B.R. Chopra's "Mahabharat", as the institute chairman questionable.