FTII row: Delegation of protesters calls on I&B min officials

A delegation of students and alumni members of FTII-Pune today met senior officials of the I&B Ministry to seek a resolution to the row over the appointment of TV actor and BJP's Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of the governing council of the prestigious institute.

Oscar-winner Resul Pookutty and filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli were part of the delegation which met a group of senior ministry officials led by the joint secretary (films), K Sanjay Murti.

Sources said that the ministry officials had a detailed discussion with the students after their meeting got underway at 3 P.M.

The appointment of Chauhan, who played 'Yudhishthir' in TV serial 'Mahabharat', as the FTII chief triggered protests among the students there as they called for a person of a higher stature to head the institution.
 

Similar sentiments were also expressed by some of the alumni of the institution.

With the students refusing to relent, I&B Ministry had invited them for talks to sort the issue.

Earlier, agitating students of FTII-Pune today took their protest to the heart of the national capital as they held a demonstration seeking immediate revocation of Chauhan's appointment.

The students staged their protest outside Shastri Bhavan, which houses the Information and Broadcasting Ministry office.