FTII row: No breakthrough in talks, next round of discussion on 10 October

Mumbai: A fresh round of talks on Wednesday between I&B officials and striking FTII students failed to resolve the over 100-day deadlock with the students insisting on their demand for removal of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as the Pune-based institute’s chairman. [caption id=“attachment_2459156” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Both sides, however, agreed to take forward the talks and agreed to meet again on 10 October. “The main demand of removal Chauhan as FTII chairman and the dissolution of its society are still not resolved and these would be discussed during the next round of talks on October 10,” Vikas Urs, spokesperson of FTII students, told reporters after the meeting. Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sunil Arora led the parleys held at the Films Division office in Mumbai, also attended by Joint Secretary (Films) K Sanjay Murthy, Director General of Films Division Mukesh Sharma, FTII Director Prashant Pathrabe and registrar UC Bodke. Apart from seven students, the Film and Television Institute of India’s (FTII) alumni association representative Aruna Raje was also invited for the talks. Urs said, “We had fairly elaborate discussions with the Secretary of I&B Ministry and briefed them on the issues, including the unfair appointments in the FTII society and its nature of functioning that have led to the current crisis on the campus.” “We also discussed the urgent need of transforming the FTII society into an internationally acclaimed institution. But, the meeting was inconclusive. However, we are very much hopeful that something would come out extremely positive on October 10 when we will be meeting the same delegation here, he said.” “When we would have the next round of talks, these demands would be on top of the agenda,” he said. A statement issued by I&B officials after the meeting said, “during the discussions, the students sought an enhanced delegation of financial power and flexibility in purchase of hardware, etc to enable them to do their creative work.” “It was agreed that Mukesh Sharma would examine this matter and submit a report within a fortnight to the ministry. The students and Ms Raje also reiterated their desire for turning FTII into an institute of national excellence, at par with the reputed institutions across the world,” it said. The statement also said that the Secretary will have another round of talks with the students in Mumbai on 10 October and request Minister of State, I&B, to have a meeting with the students in Delhi in the near future. With FTII students sticking to their demand for removal of Chauhan as the institute’s chairman, the three rounds of talks held so far have failed to end the impasse. While the students, who have been boycotting classes since 12 June, are demanding Chauhan’s removal, the ministry has firmly backed his appointment. An I&B Ministry-appointed committee had visited FTII’s Pune campus on 21 August and held discussions with students, faculty members and the alumni association. The agitating students had earlier called off their 18-day-old relay hunger strike on 27 September. PTI