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Central Team Lands In Pune To Solve FTII Row

Central Team Lands In Pune To Solve FTII Row
Indian students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), along with other student activists, chant slogans during a protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the FTII, in New Delhi on August 3, 2015. Protesters are demanding the removal of Chauhan, who they say is not qualified for the post but was given the position due to political reasons, and have been boycotting their classes at the institute over the issue since June 12. AFP PHOTO / SAJJAD HUSSAIN (Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)
SAJJAD HUSSAIN via Getty Images
Indian students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), along with other student activists, chant slogans during a protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the FTII, in New Delhi on August 3, 2015. Protesters are demanding the removal of Chauhan, who they say is not qualified for the post but was given the position due to political reasons, and have been boycotting their classes at the institute over the issue since June 12. AFP PHOTO / SAJJAD HUSSAIN (Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)

A three-member delegation of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is at the FTII campus in Pune to hold discussions with the faculty, director and agitating students to find a solution to the row in campus.

The team led by S M Khan, which reached the city last night, told PTI that they were "optimistic" of an early solution to the face-off leading to the now 71-day-old strike.

"We have come with an open mind and will be talking to the faculty members, the director and the students," Khan told reporters here.

Meanwhile, the Film and Television Institute of India's (FTII) Director Prashant Pathrabe denied rumours that he had proceeded on leave following the Tuesday night's police crackdown on students who had gheraoed him and subsequent arrest of five protestors.

The FTII Students' Association (FSA) had yesterday denied Pathrabe's claim that he was "tortured" during the prolonged gherao at his office on Monday evening.

Besides, over 60 visiting faculty members, in a letter to the I and B Ministry, had urged the government to shun "highhanded and confrontationist" view of the strike and adopt a pragmatic and honourable approach to find a solution.

The striking students have questioned Chauhan's "credentials" to head the premiere institute. They have also objected to the director's decision to conduct assessment of incomplete diploma film projects, now put on hold.

The students had yesterday also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention into the matter.

"Prime Minister should visit FTII to resolve the issues. All students in the country are feeling threatened by the government's insensitivity towards the problems being faced by them," FSA representative Vikas Urs had said.

Five students, including Urs, had been arrested on rioting charges on Tuesday following the gherao. They were later released on bail by a local court.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.