In a bid to end the deadlock incapacitating the functioning of India’s premier film education centre, students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on Sunday called off their 17-day hunger strike against the controversial appointment of BJP leader Gajendra Chauhan as FTII chairman after the Information and Broadcasting (I & B) Ministry agreed to hold fresh talks on September 29.
While the FTII Students’ Association (FSA) said it was withdrawing the hunger strike after receiving intimation for fresh parleys on behalf of the Ministry, the main agitation against Mr. Chauhan and the appointments of Sangh Parivar members in the FTII governing council, would go on.
The meeting between the student body and government officials will take place at the Films Division in Mumbai on Tuesday, said the letter signed by the Joint Secretary (Films), K. Sanjay Murthy.
In a letter to the Ministry dated Friday, the FSA has said that it proposed to call off the hunger strike “once the government takes immediate trust-building measures and confirms the date for official meeting with the representatives of the Ministry.” Seven students have been admitted to the hospital since the relay hunger strike commenced on September 10.
