Team Herald
PANJIM: With police action continuing against the students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), who are in Goa to be part of the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the FTII Student Association has accused State government of meting out “terrorist” treatment to them, thereby revealing its fascist nature.
Addressing a press conference, the Student Association, rejecting the allegation that they are here to disrupt the film festival, charged the organizers of IFFI and State government of restraining them from attending the events and victimization of the students.
Prateek Vats, ex-student of FTII, said the students are being detained by Goa police and are kept under 24 hour surveillance like. “Since FTII is an official partner in the festival organized by I&B Ministry and attending the festival is part of our academics, it is the responsibly of the ministry to make sure that the students don’t feel insecure and victimized at the festival anymore,” he said.
“We hold the entire film fraternity responsible for the security of our students. We also request the progressive and liberal citizens to support us,” he added.
Vats said that the IFFI organizers have rejected registration of several FTII students without any reason. “We are called as ‘threat’ by the organizers,” he charged.
“We are not out here to disrupt the festival, but at the same time we have the right to raise our concern and to reach out to film personalities with our issues,” Vats said.
Acclaimed filmmaker, guest faculty and former student of FTII R V Ramani expressed his unhappiness towards the victimization of the students, which is disturbing and disappointing. “This is for the first time in the history of film festival that film industry students are restrained from attending the festival,” he said.
Two FTII students were arrested on Friday for displaying placards at the IFFI inaugural venue while another one was detained on Saturday.
The duo, released on conditional bail, are charged with assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, impersonation, trespass and criminal conspiracy.
