Students' stir politicised, external forces driving agenda: SRFTI vice chancellor

KOLKATA: Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera on Tuesday alleged that a section of students were politicising their agitation with "external forces driving their agenda" and disrupting academic activities for nearly a month. SRFTI students have been on an indefinite sit-in outside Ajmera's office since October 12, demanding his resignation over incidents of violence on the campus. 

A growing group of noted personalities have rallied behind the agitators. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah alleged the BJP "out for revenge against anyone who does not subscribe to its beliefs and policies" was "either hoping to brainwash or frighten future filmmakers of the country". Echoing his concerns, filmmaker Anand Patwardhan alleged the institute was "under severe attack by RSS and BJP goons outside the gates and by a cowardly administration inside".

Facing flak from various corners, Vice-Chancellor Ajmera said the protest, which began with students flagging safety concerns, had been "turned into a platform for political and ideological battles, with demands that went beyond the institution's jurisdiction". "A few students, with the help of external forces, are driving the entire agenda, and halting classes even as many want academic activities to resume soon," he said in a statement. Ajmera alleged the protesting students had changed their demands several times over the past month, making it "difficult for the administration to identify their precise requirements". 

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The institute had suspended academic activities and declared a month-long holiday on October 16, clubbing it with the festive period, in an attempt to restore normalcy on the campus, he said. "However, it is unfortunate that a few students don't want to comply with official orders and are trying to hijack institutional properties," the vice-chancellor said, adding that the demands had created uncertainty over the academic calendar. He also claimed that faculty members had informed him that "some protesting students were intimidating others and discouraging them from attending classes." 

"Discussion can happen only when the larger body of students understand the vested interest and hidden agenda of these few, who are trying to hijack the institution," the VC said. He also said the state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incidents, while the institute had formed its own fact-finding committee to establish the sequence of events. "If students are found to be at fault, the institute will take necessary actions. As for arrest, it is the police authorities and SIT which will take necessary action. Law has to take its own course," Ajmera reasoned.

The campus plunged into turmoil after students and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP), an RSS-affiliated consumer awareness group, got into a clash on September 27 during a programme. On October 4, the campus again witnessed a scuffle during a protest organised by members of the Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Mancha. Some of the agitators had tried to break open the institute's gate when they were stopped by police. In a notice on October 16, the SRFTI suspended regular academic activities in its film as well as electronic and digital marketing departments until November 13, and had asked students to vacate the premises within 24 hours. 

The institute has had its puja vacation till October 21. The protesting students have been adamant in continuing their stir over concerns about campus security and seeking accountability for the violence. The institute administration, meanwhile, has accused students of harassing Ajmera and vandalising his room. Tracing the sequence of events at the institute, Ajmera said the auditorium had been rented out in accordance with the existing policy and that the fact-finding committee would examine what prompted students to enter the premises when it had been hired for an event. He also alleged that students had been advised to remain in their hostels on October 4 but defied the instruction and went towards the institute's gate, leading to further confrontations. Police were investigating the stone-pelting incident, the vice-chancellor said and appreciated the police department for maintaining round-the-clock security outside the campus.