Rahul says RSS "undermining" the system, backs FTII stir

Rahul Gandhi today mounted a blistering attack on the Modi government, saying appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as Chairman of the premier FTII institute here formed part of the RSS' "larger scheme" to undermine educational, bureaucratic and judicial system.

On a visit to the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) campus to pledge support to the students agitating for removal of Chauhan, he said the RSS and its ideologues are "undermining" the institution's stature by promoting "mediocrity" and bullying the critics as "anti- national and "anti-Hindu."

"RSS and its ideologues are systematically promoting mediocre people in the system...They are hell-bent on undermining the educational institutions' stature...It is not going on just in the education system but also in bureaucratic and judicial system," he said

"RSS wants to promote their idea. They will call you anti-national, anti-Hindu. They are scared of you. That is the nature of a bully," he said.

Gandhi, clad in casuals, had an interaction with the students of the campus that has produced several leading personalities of contemporary Indian cinema, who have rallied behind the agitating students.

He said the Government was suppressing the voice of the students by refusing to have a meaningful discussion on their demand.

"They (students) have only one demand that they (want to) have a discussion and want their voice to be heard... All that the students are saying is that there should be a discussion and their voice should be heard".

"They (the government) don't want discussion..Anything that does not suit their ideology is anti-national. What is anti-national about these students who want to make their films..What could be more pro-national than that.