<p>With Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi siding with the agitating students of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), the crisis surrounding the premier institute deepened further.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“We will raise their voice on all platforms, we will raise their voice in Parliament….it is not good if voices of students are suppressed,” said Rahul during an interaction FTII students in Pune.<br /><br />Agitation by students<br />The students have been agitating and boycotting classes over the appointment of TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as Film and Telivison Institute chief, since June 12. <br /><br />A group of students and Film and Television Institute of India alumni had held a meeting earlier with Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley but the Centre is in no mood to go back on the appointment.<br /><br />Rahul Gandhi , who was accompanied by actors and Congressmen Raj Babbar and Chiranjeevi.<br /><br />He said that the RSS and its ideologues are “undermining” the institution’s stature by promoting “mediocrity” and bullying the critics as “anti- national” and “anti-Hindu”.<br /><br />“They will say you are anti-national, anti-Hindu. They are scared of you.That is the nature of a bully,” he said, adding: “The students are only asking for their voice to be heard. It will not make the government smaller if they have a discussion.”<br /><br />“Are these students anti-national?...is studying anti-national?....is learning to make films anti-national…whatever they do not like, they would call it anti-national,” said Rahul, while launching a blistering attack on the Bhartiya Janata Party -led NDA government.<br /><br />“The RSS and its wings promote mediocrity. I have seen this everywhere,” he said. <br /><br />Letter to Rahul<br />In a letter to Rahul Gandhi, Film and Television Institute of India Students Association president Harishankar Nachimuthu said that Chauhan’s appointment has raised questions over the process of appointments in the institute and asked the Congress leader to step in to resolve the crisis. <br /><br />“We are very proud of the Film and Telivison Institute of India students and the work that they do.Youth are the future of our country.”<br /><br />Rahul added “their voices should be heard.” Rahul added “This is not simply about this school, this is being done to the entire country,” he said, making it clear that he would stall attempts to privatise Film and Televison Institute of Indioa. <br /><br />“A single idea of our country is being promoted and all those who disagree are being silenced.”<br /><br />There is a place for govt in education and there is a place for private players but I wouldn’t be for privatisation of an institution like this. If they want to privatise it.”<br />Rahul Gandhi added, “ I will be sitting here agitating with you,” he added.<br /></p>
<p>With Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi siding with the agitating students of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), the crisis surrounding the premier institute deepened further.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“We will raise their voice on all platforms, we will raise their voice in Parliament….it is not good if voices of students are suppressed,” said Rahul during an interaction FTII students in Pune.<br /><br />Agitation by students<br />The students have been agitating and boycotting classes over the appointment of TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as Film and Telivison Institute chief, since June 12. <br /><br />A group of students and Film and Television Institute of India alumni had held a meeting earlier with Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley but the Centre is in no mood to go back on the appointment.<br /><br />Rahul Gandhi , who was accompanied by actors and Congressmen Raj Babbar and Chiranjeevi.<br /><br />He said that the RSS and its ideologues are “undermining” the institution’s stature by promoting “mediocrity” and bullying the critics as “anti- national” and “anti-Hindu”.<br /><br />“They will say you are anti-national, anti-Hindu. They are scared of you.That is the nature of a bully,” he said, adding: “The students are only asking for their voice to be heard. It will not make the government smaller if they have a discussion.”<br /><br />“Are these students anti-national?...is studying anti-national?....is learning to make films anti-national…whatever they do not like, they would call it anti-national,” said Rahul, while launching a blistering attack on the Bhartiya Janata Party -led NDA government.<br /><br />“The RSS and its wings promote mediocrity. I have seen this everywhere,” he said. <br /><br />Letter to Rahul<br />In a letter to Rahul Gandhi, Film and Television Institute of India Students Association president Harishankar Nachimuthu said that Chauhan’s appointment has raised questions over the process of appointments in the institute and asked the Congress leader to step in to resolve the crisis. <br /><br />“We are very proud of the Film and Telivison Institute of India students and the work that they do.Youth are the future of our country.”<br /><br />Rahul added “their voices should be heard.” Rahul added “This is not simply about this school, this is being done to the entire country,” he said, making it clear that he would stall attempts to privatise Film and Televison Institute of Indioa. <br /><br />“A single idea of our country is being promoted and all those who disagree are being silenced.”<br /><br />There is a place for govt in education and there is a place for private players but I wouldn’t be for privatisation of an institution like this. If they want to privatise it.”<br />Rahul Gandhi added, “ I will be sitting here agitating with you,” he added.<br /></p>
