Will FTII strike soon turn into a political blame game?

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, on Monday hit out at Congress party vice-president Rahul Gandhi for giving political colour to FTII strike.

Scion of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Gandhi, had visited the FTII campus in Pune last week to express solidarity with students, who are agitating against appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as FTII chief.

While addressing protesting students at the prestigious institute, Gandhi assured them of help and also attacked the RSS ideology. He alleged that RSS was systematically promoting "mediocrity" in various institutions.

On Monday, Rathore said that despite meetings and discussions, few students just wanted to go on with the strike.

"And with Rahul Gandhi's Pune visit it has become clear that the strike has taken a political colour or it is a political strike from the beginning," he said.

The students, who held a protest at Jantar Mantar, have been agitating against Chauhan's appointment since June 12.

Many Bollywood veterans and actors have come out in support of students. Students say that Gajendra lacks "vision and artistic credentials" to merit the post.

"Students come after the institution, first we will strengthen FTII. The government is open to discussion and students could come for meetings. It is not wise to give a political institution a political angle. And if the institution holds a strike in Delhi and Congress workers participate in it, this too is not wise," Rathore said.

The MoS added that the government had adopted a liberal outlook towards the students and no strong action was taken against students yet considering they are “students”.

Earlier this month, the students body had written to leaders from various political parties requesting them to intervene in the matter.

(Image: Indiatimes)