Naseeruddin Shah Supports SRFTI Students Amid BJP Vendetta Claims
Actor Naseeruddin Shah accused the BJP of targeting students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute who are protesting for their Vice-Chancellor's resignation.
Students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata are staging an indefinite sit-in demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera. The protests follow campus violence on September 27 and October 4 involving students and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, an RSS-affiliated group. The administration has expelled six students for alleged vandalism and harassment, while students report shortages of food and water after being ordered to vacate hostels.
Naseeruddin Shah and director Payal Kapadia have publicly supported the students. In a video message, Shah accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of pursuing a "vendetta" against dissenters following its victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections. He alleged the party is attempting to "brainwash or frighten" future filmmakers and claimed students have faced surveillance and threats.
Actor Gajendra Chauhan criticized Shah's remarks, stating he should be ashamed for abusing a party supported by 140 crore people. Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera maintained that student safety is the priority but denied claims of intimidation, asserting that external groups caused the disturbances and that students manhandled him. The institute has suspended academic activities in several departments until November 13.
