The BJP-led government ignored names such as Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan and Shyam Benegal when they were recommended by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry last year for the Film and Television Institute (FTII) panel, according to reports in NDTV.
Weeks after the BJP came to power last year, the I&B Ministry recommended the names of acclaimed filmmakers Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Shyam Benegal, and actor Anupam Kher and forwarded a list based on the same to Rajyavardhan Rathore, the minister of state for Information and Broadcasting. However, no decision was taken in this regard.
In December, a second list was sent to the minister with names such as Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, and filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar. Again, the list was ignored.
Then in May this year, Rathore forwarded a new list to Union Minister Arun Jaitley including the name of BJP member Gajendra Chauhan. Rathore reportedly prepared this list in consultation with people outside the ministry, including the RSS.
Chauhan, who is known for portraying the character of ‘Yudhisthira’ on TV show Mahabharata, became chairman of FTII last month. His appointment has come under severe criticism from current and former students of the elite institution, who have been protesting since the last one month, asking for his removal.
A lot of other eminent people of the Indian film industry including well-known cinematographer Santosh Sivan, filmmaker Jahnu Barua and actress Pallavi Joshi have refused to be a part of the FTII society or the governing council in recent times.
Advice. After all the protests and controversy,Gajendra Chauhan,the FTII Chairman should voluntarily retire. Will do good to the students.
– rishi kapoor (@chintskap) July 10, 2015
If they don’t want you, they don’t want you.By pushing for the chairmanship is getting you no where.Let self pride play a role and retire!
– rishi kapoor (@chintskap) July 10, 2015
Did anyone ask what gajendra Chauhan future plan or his vision about the FTII ? Did anyone give him opportunity to explain ?
– Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) July 9, 2015
Appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as Chairman FTII is such example. Urge Gajendra Chauhan to resign. Nepotism and Favouritism above Merit.
– digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) July 10, 2015
Meanwhile, Chauhan himself said he was not ready to step down from the post and that others such as Anupam Kher and Rishi Kapoor were nobody to comment on his position.