Fresh talks called to end FTII strike

Seven-member delegation to meet Rajyavardhan Rathore.

In a fresh attempt to end the impasse at the strike-hit Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), the Information and Broadcasting (I & B) Ministry will hold parleys with the agitating students on October 20 in New Delhi.

Vikas Urs, spokesman for the FTII Students’ Association (FSA) said a seven-member delegation will meet Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State (MoS), I & B in New Delhi to end the strike against the controversial appointment of BJP leader Gajendra Chauhan as FTII chairman.

According to the students, Mr. Chauhan lacks the “creative credentials” to head India’s premier film education centre.

The agitation against Mr. Chauhan’s appointment entered its 126th day on Thursday.

A Pune court on Tuesday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of 12 students in connection with the August 17 incident when the agitators allegedly laid siege to Director Prashant Pathrabe’s office, confining him to his cabin for several hours.

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