File picture of Rahul Gandhi.
The midnight arrests of five students from the Film Institute campus in Pune has been used by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to reiterate the allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration will smack down dissent. Mr Gandhi tweeted, "Our students are not criminals Modiji" and claimed that the "Acche Din (Good Times)" slogan used to such advantage by the PM during his campaign should be revised - here's how.The students who were arrested have been charged with rioting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) because on Monday evening, they allegedly took Director Prashant Pathrabe hostage, locking him into his office for more than seven hours while damaging furniture and other property.
"I was tortured and verbally assaulted," said Mr Pathrabe at a press conference today. Defending his decision to seek police action against the students, he said, "What about my freedom? Has that not been violated? I am still in a state of shock."
Students claim the Director has wrongly decided to evaluate the final projects of a group of 50 from the 2008 batch. They say their films have not been completed. FTII officials say this delay is a way of ensuring that students who should have completed a three-year diploma a long time ago remain on campus.
The 55-year-old institute been roiling for over two months over the government's decision to appoint the BJP's Gajendra Chauhan, best-known for his role as Yudhisthira in the tele-series Mahabahrat as the Chairperson of the FTII. Students and alumni say Mr Chauhan is grossly under-qualified. Critics of the BJP say his is the latest in a string of political appointments to cultural and academic bodies. Both the government and Mr Chauhan have rejected that charge.
Mr Gandhi visited the students recently to express his support for their protests and then accompanied some of them to meet with President Pranab Mukherjee.