SRFTI protest, Day 9: Not allowed to enter campus second time, says director; students deny allegation

SRFTI students protest inside the campus on Tuesday. (File Photo) 

Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) director Debamitra Mitra on Wednesday alleged that she was not allowed to enter the campus for the second time by protesting students. The students have been protesting on the campus against expulsion of 14 female students following their refusal to vacate the old hostel rooms and shift to a new accommodation.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Mitra said she was ready to consider the demands of the students but was not allowed to enter the campus. “We were ready to look into their demands but they prevented us from entering the campus. They want all their demands to be met immediately which is not possible. There is an official way to pass orders and we cannot do it if they continue to hold protests in such manner. They must withdraw their protests if they want us to look into their demands,” Mitra said. She was prevented from entering the campus on Monday too. The students body at the institute said that the director must immediately revoke the decision to expel 14 female students.

“Our protest enters the ninth day. SRFTI continues to be under lockdown with no administrative or academic activities taking place. The director refused to revoke the rustication unconditionally and continues to claim that we are hindering this process by blocking entry at the gate. We would like to categorically state that we had agreed to allow her in with her staff to do the needful to revoke the rustication but she did not want to enter the campus and has been conducting meetings at her home,” they said in a statement.

They further said, “Students’ Association SRFTI stands firmly on the demand that the rustication should be revoked unconditionally and that this be given in writing before we go into any dialogue regarding our other issues. It’s incomprehensible to us that when she can continue her official communication with us from her home why can’t the revoking order be issued in the same manner. We are deeply saddened that the director seems to show no interest in finding a solution at the earliest and continues to blame the students for the stalemate in reaching any consensus.”