Protesting FTII students “anti-Hindu”: RSS mouthpiece

New Delhi: Amid ongoing agitation against actor Gajender Chauhan as FTII chairman, an article in RSS mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ has dubbed the protesting students as “anti-Hindu” and smells a “conspiracy” behind the demonstations.

“As government appointed Gajendra Chauhan, anti-Hindu fringe elements did what they are best at. They started protest against newly-appointed chairman of governing council.

“… All these have made no difference to the so-called well wishers of the institute, because their interest lies not in well-being of the Institute and students but lies in furthering the anti-Hindu propaganda,” an article in the ‘Organiser’ said.

It also labelled certain film-makers as “anti-Hindu too and topping their list was Rajkumar Hirani, director of the movie ‘PK’, which it alleges portrays Hindus in a negative light. Hirani was on the board of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.

It also labelled ace director Mrinal Sen as a “confirmed Marxist”, Girish Karnad “a known Hindu-hater” and Shyam Benegal “known for anti-BJP stand”.

The article “FTII row: Protest or Conspiracy?” says the protest by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students to revoke the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of its governing council “smells of conspiracy”.

“So the question of credential is not only a farce but it can very well be argued that, all the credentials of “current students and regular faculties” of FTII put together will be no match to the credentials of Gajendra Chauhan. Only a mentally-challenged will challenge Gajendra Chauhan’s credentials,” the article said.

It also said that central government “buckled under the pressure of fringe elements” at IIT-Madras and “allowed anti-Hindu activities to be carried on”.

“They did not realize post this incidence that such fringe elements will raise their head across institutes with rejuvenated vigour,” it said.