20 students lathicharged for protesting against Gajendra Chauhan

Pune: Police used force to disperse and round up a group of about 40 FTII students protesting here against TV actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan who is expected to take charge as the institute’s Chairman today. The students called off their strike after 139 days against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chief.

“We have been brutally targeted by police who lathi-charged us with the knowledge of FTII administration”, alleged one of the students as he was put in a police van and whisked away. In their notice, police said action will be taken against students if they create trouble on the campus, creating law and order problem. They have been against Chauhan’s appointment, and even went on a hunger strike in 2015.

Chauhan is scheduled to chair his first FTII Society meeting on Thursday.

“We shall be finalising the governing council after which different agenda can be mentioned”, Chauhan informed IANS. Now Chauhan is joining office after seven months of his appointment.

“A female student of the FTII said”, We were protesting peacefully at the main gate to register our dissent because politically appointed people are taking charge as members of the FTII Society. There might be protests clearly, however we have now not determined different issues.

A clean-up drive continued at the campus to remove graffiti on the walls and protest paraphernalia and slogans painted all around the various buildings by the students during their stir. Their critics pointed out that numerous protesting students had bust deadlines to submit their final projects and graduate, and were staying on a campus that provides highly-subsidised hostel facilities.

“I have been ordered by the federal government, and I will do my job. I can’t comment on what they will do, but I am ready to do my job”, Chauhan told reporters ahead of his visit to Pune.