Ready for talks on Gajendra Chauhan's appointment but making FTII strike political a mistake: Rathore

New Delhi: With Film and Television Institute of India students intensifying their protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as institute's chairman, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said the government is ready for discussion.

After Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi met protesting FTII students in Pune, Rathore said, "We are ready for talks but making the FTII strike political was a mistake. A section of students wants to continue with strike even after government held discussions with students to resolve the issue."

The FTII students will protest at Jantar mantar in New Delhi and will be joined by Youth Congress workers. There are speculations that Rahul is likely to attend the protest.

Senior Congress leader Ambika Soni hit back at Rathore saying, "What is the politics behind Rahul Gandhi going to FTII and meet the protesting students. He did not go on his own or behalf of the party. He went there on invitation of the FTII students who invited him."

The students have been protesting against Chauhan's appointment since June 12, saying he lacked "vision and artistic credentials" to merit the post at the prestigious FTII.

Chauhan, known for his role of 'Yudhishtira' in popular tele-serial "Mahabharat", has refused to step down, claiming he is well equipped for the job and that if Centre, which has appointed him tells him to go he will do so.

"We will start our march from Jantar Mantar and head to the Parliament Street and will be joined by activists of other like-minded organisations to express their solidarity on the issue, which involves preservation of the Film and Television Institute of India's artistic and academic excellence and ethos," FTII Students' Association (FSA) representative Ranjit Nair said.

Several eminent actors including Anupam Kher, Rishi Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Salman Khan among others have come out in support of the agitating students of FTII and openly opposed Chauhan's appointment.

Many stalwarts of Indian cinema including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Jahnu Baruah, Raju Hirani, Jaya Bachchan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Ramesh Sippy, Govind Nihalani and Aamir Khan were considered for the post earlier.