Parents of FTII students urge President, PM to intervene

Parents of students of the Film and Televsion Institute of India (FTII) today appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a speedy resolution to the agitation by students against the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as the institute's chairman.
As the strike at FTII continues, parents of some them have written a letter to both the President and Prime Minister in which they have expressed their "disappointment" at the way government has been treating the long drawn protest.
The parents in their letter have said that the present situation at FTII has left them worried about their children's physical, emotional and mental well-being.

Three students at FTII have also gone on an indefinite hunger strike seeking Chauhan's removal.
The parents appealed to the President and Prime Minister to intervene and reassure them that there will be a dialogue with students to resolve the issue without any delay.
The parents also requested that the government should declare FTII as an institution of national importance on par with IITs and IIMs. The letter also urged that FIRs against some of the students should be withdrawn.

The parents also spoke to representatives of the media here where they said they were worried about the situation.
One of the parents A Thotathri Raman said he felt the "unfortunate situation would not have got prolonged so much had the government engaged with the students".

Meanwhile, the students said that they would carry on the protests in India and also abroad in support of their demands.
The stalemate over the appointment of Chauhan whose credentials to head the institute, have been questioned by the agitating students, continued on the 94th day today with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry maintaining its silence.