FTII protest moving in wrong direction due to political interference: Satish Kaushik

Indore, Aug 19: Veteran actor Satish Kaushik believes the ongoing agitation by students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) against its chairperson and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan is moving in a wrong direction due to political interference.

The 59-year-old FTII alumni said he supports the protests but feels students should keep politicians at bay.

"Students protest is right. A person should have enough credentials to be in the position of a chairman of such a big institute. It does not matter which party is the chairman from. There have been chairpersons from BJP earlier too. He should have that stature.

"In the past few days, we have seen many politicians with FTII students. They should not allow that," Kaushik told reporters here.

Five students of FTII, were arrested in an unprecedented midnight crackdown by the police at the campus in Pune and charged with rioting over the gherao of director Prashant Pathrabe, who claimed he was tortured.

They were later granted bail by a local court. The actor-director said the crisis is not ending because there is only discussion but no one is coming forward with a solution.

"Some students of FTII were arrested last evening. Their agitation has taken some different colour. Big debates are happening in the country over this issue but no one is coming forward to bring out any solution.

"FTII people have made Gajendra Chuahan a star. He did not get this much popularity in showbiz after working for years, which he has got after becoming the chairman of FTII."

He said students should be clear in their demands and they should not give any space to party politics in the matter.

PTI