Even as support keep pouring in from the film industry and others for Film and Television Institute of India students in their protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan, actor and BJP leader, as chairman of the governing council of the premier institution, party leader Subramaniam Swamy said on Saturday that the government had the right to appoint a person of its choice.
“Who are the students to oppose? There is no election in this case. Most of them [the students] are Naxalites,” he reportedly told a news agency in New Delhi.
Earlier in the day, actor Amol Palekar, director Sudhir Mishra and national award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao, an FTII alumnus, joined the swelling number of celebrities, including Rishi Kapoor and his son, Ranbir, and Anupam Kher, in backing the students. As the strike entered the 29th day, Mr. Rao said the students deserved a chairman who they could trust as their future was at stake.
Mr. Palekar urged Mr. Chauhan to step down as his body of creative work was not inspiring for the students.
Criticising Mr. Chauhan for his limited knowledge of cinema, Mr. Mishra said: “This is a fantastic place which has given so much to the Indian film industry. It deserves someone far better than Chauhan.”
Published - July 12, 2015 03:29 am IST