PUNE, Oct 28 - Unable to force the Government to scrap the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as FTII Chairman, agitating students today unilaterally withdrew their 139-day-old strike but vowed to continue protests as 10 filmmakers returned their National Awards voicing solidarity with them and against growing intolerance in the country.
�We are calling off the strike as a collective decision in the best interests of the students and returning to academics with immediate effect. But our protest will continue. We will take the battle forward,� FTII Students� Association representative Vikas Urs said in Pune.
As the lingering impasse at the Film and Television Institute of India ended, 10 filmmakers, including Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan, announced in Mumbai their decision to return the prestigious National Awards over the government�s �apathy� in addressing the students� issues and the environment of intolerance. �As filmmakers we stand with the students of FTII and are determined to not let them shoulder the entire burden of the protest,� they said in a letter to President and the Prime Minister. � PTI
