SRFTI students write to chairman Suresh Gopi, seek intervention in class boycott

The Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute students’ union on Wednesday wrote to chairman Suresh Gopi, seeking his intervention in the grievances that prompted the class boycott from September 28.

The move came a day after the students demanded the resignation of vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera.

In the letter, the students told Gopi, Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, that the past two weeks had been “stressful, traumatic, distressing and disappointing”.

They alleged that groups linked to the RSS attacked them on two consecutive Sundays, September 27 and October 4.

“We have been constantly seeking adequate response, accountability and dialogue from you, the chairman, the vice-chancellor, and the ministry of information and broadcasting. However, we have failed to have our voices heard,” the union wrote, seeking the chairman’s intervention to resolve the crisis.

The students’ demands include Ajmera’s resignation, unconditional rescheduling of classes missed during the boycott, withdrawal of disciplinary action and show-cause notices issued to protesting students, and action against those behind the alleged attacks.

“Since we have lost faith in the VC, who, instead of addressing our concerns, is busy issuing notices for disciplinary action against protesting students, we have approached the chairman. We want the administration to fix accountability for the attacks,” union president Blossom Hazarika said.

Students began boycotting theoretical classes on September 28, a day after they were allegedly assaulted by supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP).

On October 4, alleged supporters of the Hindu Jagran Manch hurled bottles and stones at the students, accusing them of disrespecting images of Swami Vivekananda and Bharat Mata while attempting to disrupt the ABGP event.

Ajmera appealed to students to resume classes. He said campus security had been ensured and the agitation by some students was affecting others who wanted to return.