Pune: FTII students staged a protest outside the main gate of the campus on Tuesday, expressing solidarity with students of SRFTI, Kolkata, who have been on an indefinite strike since Oct 12 outside their vice-chancellor’s office.The strike was launched by SRFTI students in response to violence that erupted on campus after students opposed a programme organised by an alleged right-wing organisation on Sept 27 without their consent, and the students were assaulted.Reiterating the demands raised by SRFTI students, FTII students demanded the revocation of the rustication of six SRFTI students. They also raised slogans against alleged saffronisation of educational institutes, alleged militarisation of campuses, attack by different people on peacefully protesting students inside the campus and outside campuses, alleged arm-twisting tactics by the administration and govt to quell peaceful student protests etc.According to the SRFTI administration’s official notification, the students were rusticated for specific acts of misconduct, including vandalism, defacement, and physical assault—not peaceful protest, a claim disputed by the students. “The Institute upholds the right to peaceful dissent while ensuring accountability under its rules,” added the post.Malavika Ezhapilly, a student union member from SRFTI, said after the Sept 27 violence, another right-wing organisation marched to the institute on Oct 4, threw stones and bottles at the students, injuring two students. “As the protests progressed, the administrative building that houses the only water filter is closed after 7 pm on weekdays and entirely on weekends. The allegations of vandalism of VC’s office and misconduct by students is completely false. On Oct 16, we got a notice stating that the institute will be closed till Nov 13, announcing the closure of mess and canteen and asking us to vacate the hostels. We are opposing all these arm twisting tactics by the administration to quell our right to protest,” said Malavika, a student.As per the statement from SRFTI Student Union, the students are demanding the resignation of the vice-chancellor, revocation of rustication notices, a meeting to hold accountable people who permitted the RSS-affiliate organisation’s programme inside the campus and an amendment in bylaws disallowing renting of SRFTI space to external organisations.An SRFTI statement about the Oct 4 incident states that the institute has filed a formal complaint with the authorities concerned and is taking necessary measures to strengthen campus security and ensure the well-being of the SRFTI community.
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