FTII row: RSS mouthpiece defends Gajendra Chauhan, hits out at former chairmen

Pune, July 19: After facing a backlash from across all quarters in the film industry, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) chairperson Gajendra Chauhan has found solace from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

In an article, "titled ‘FTII row: Protest or Conspiracy?" in RSS weekly mouthpiece 'Organiser', it said that those opposing Chauhan's appointment are "anti-Hindu". [FTII-Gajendra Chauhan's ugly war: All you need to know about it]

The article written by Sandeep Singh, founder of the website http://www.swastik.net.in, even went on to say that "only mentally challenged will challenge Gajendra Chauhan's credentials".

Calling the ongoing protests by FTII students as a part of conspiracy, the article defended that "Chauhan does not lack credentials" to be be the chairman of its governing council. [Bollywood list opposing Chauhan appointment gets longer]

The article further said,"The name of Rajkumar Hirani, Director of movie "PK", which portrays Hindus in negative light, on the Board of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune was being perceived as a signal that government can't stand tall in front of anti-Hindu fringe elements. And as expected, as soon as the government appointed Gajendra Chauhan, anti-Hindu fringe elements did what they are best at. They started protest against the newly appointed Chairman of Governing Council."

The article also made scathing attack on former FTII chairmen. [Gul Panag suggests Kirron Kher to be the FTII head]

It said, "former FTII chairman UR Ananthamurthy has "never acted in his life. But, he did run for the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 in which he stated that his prime ideological objective...was to fight the BJP".

The article went into the depth of taking potshots at the credentials of former FTII Chairmen. It described Mrinal Sen as "a confirmed Marxist", Girish Karnad, "a Hindu hater", Mahesh Bhatt, "a porn promoter" and Shyam Benegal as "an anti-BJP man".

The article also mentioned that the noted director Saeed Mirza, is a trustee of an NGO called ANHAD, about which it is said that it is actually a political arm of Congress party.

At the end, the article praised that the NDA government has done enough for FTII and its students.

OneIndia News