SRFTI students call for nationwide campus protest tomorrow

Students at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata have been calling for a nationwide campus protest on October 27 against what they refer to as the "saffronisation of educational institutions." This call comes as their agitation has been ongoing for 28 days. They have addressed a press conference and have expressed their concerns over the "growing suppression of dissent."

Shubham Waydande, who has been rusticated and is the vice president of the SRFTI students union, stated that their vice chancellor has threatened them with disciplinary action and has already rusticated six students. Aaron P Joy, another student, added that the institute is attempting to dismantle spaces for opposition and criticism, which are core principles of their constitution.

The union has presented several demands, including stopping the appointment of Sangh Parivar/RSS-affiliated officials, revoking the rustication of students who have faced punitive action for expressing dissent, enacting the Rohith Vemula Act, withdrawing certain bills and policies, and stopping the privatization of educational institutions.

However, the institute's registrar, Deepak Kumar, clarified that Waydande is ineligible to be part of the students' body due to his rustication. The institute has also clarified that the disciplinary actions taken against students were due to specific acts of misconduct, and these actions are not linked to their right to protest.

The vice-chancellor's office has been damaged, and there have been allegations of entering without permission and being surrounded for a long time.