Central team visits FTII, holds 'positive' talks

Pune: A three-member information and broadcasting ministry team on Friday held talks with all stakeholders of Film and Television Institute of India, where students have been protesting for nearly three months against Gajendra Chauhan's appointment as the institute's chairman.

The committee comprised Registrar of Newspapers of India's S.M. Khan, I&B ministry's joint secretary S. Naganathan and director, Films, Anshu Shukla. A team official said they had "very satisfactory discussions" with all the stakeholders and were apprised of all the issues at the FTII. "We had very positive discussions with all concerned. We are hopeful that an amicable solution will come out," Khan told media persons later.

"We shall now submit a report to the ministry by Monday and further decisions will be taken accordingly," Khan said. Shortly after their arrival at the FTII campus here, they met representatives of the staff association, followed by the faculties of the TV Wing and Film Wing.

Later, they held discussions with students representatives and the FTII Alumni Association, which have been spearheading the agitation against the appointment of television personality Chauhan as FTII chairman. "We are happy that the team has arrived and listened to our problems... We are hopeful of an amicable solution to the pending issues," a student leader told media persons.

The central team's arrival resulted in easing of tensions on the FTII campus after a nocturnal swoop by the police on the campus and the arrest of five students on Wednesday. Those arrested were sent to judicial custody till September 1, but later granted bail on a bond of Rs.3,000 each.

The police action followed a complaint by FTII director Prashant Pathrabe who said he was illegally confined in his office for eight hours on Monday by around 40-50 students. Later, police protection and private security was deployed on the campus, which was removed on Friday.