Two of the three FTII students who had started a relay hunger strike four days ago were hospitalised on Sunday after their health worsened even as the protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the institute entered the 95th day on Monday.
Himanshu Shekhar who has been on a fast for more than 102 hours by Monday has urged Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore to visit the campus and intervene and resolve the crisis immediately.
In another development, veteran actor Vikram Gokhale visited the campus to express his solidarity with students. Mr Gokhale reportedly told students that he would speak with Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadanvis and Union ministers and urge them to resolve the issue.
While addressing a press conference on Monday, a student representative said, “Himanshu Shekhar has now been on hunger strike for more than 102 hours. It is outright incredible that the ministry still hasn’t even expressed concern about his or the other students’ health. This is indicative of the government apathy towards the students and stakeholders in the FTII.”
Mr Shekhar said that he was saddened the ministry had still not officially responded to the concerns raised by the students. He urged MoS Mr Rathore to visit the campus and intervene in the crisis situation.
The agitating students who have been protesting for more than three months to press for their demands resorted to indefinite hunger strike on Thursday claiming they had been left with no other option because of the government “apathy” to the issue, including that of setting up a “transparent mechanism” to select the FTII chairman. They have also alleged that Mr Chauhan lacked “credentials and vision” to head the premiere institute. The Information and Broadcasting ministry who has taken a tough stance on the long drawn out strike by the students who have been boycotting classes since June 12, has so far turned a cold-shoulder to their demand to hold another round of talks with them after the failure of the July 3 dialogue in Delhi to find a solution to the impasse.
