In the evening of Wednesday, 21st August, 2013, five students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune were beaten up near the National Film Archives of India (NFAI) by members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). It is learnt that one student was hit on the head and had to be taken to a hospital. The attack took place soon after the screening of Anand Patwardhan’s documentary Jai Bheem Comrade and the performance by Kabir Kala Manch artists. It is also learnt that all this happened in front of the police, who turned a blind eye to the goondaism of ABVP.
The FTII incident is in line with recent attacks by right-wing groups across the country to stifle freedom of speech and expression and scientific/rational thoughts. On 16th August, an art gallery was vandalized by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal men in Ahmedabad as it featured paintings of some Pakistani artists. On 20th August, noted social activist and campaigner against superstition- Dr. Narendra Dabholkar- was shot dead by unidentified gunmen. It is well known that Dr. Dabholkar had been under attack from a number of right-wing groups in Pune and Maharashtra.
PSF strongly condemns all such attacks across the country. In the case of FTII incident, the PSF demands that the police should book ABVP men responsible for the attack on the students. It extends its solidarity to the students of the institute. A mass political and ideological struggle alone will ensure the defeat of the agenda of right-wing forces and lead to a more democratization of our society.
Progressive Students’ Forum (PSF)
Tata Institute of Social Sciences
23rd August, 2013
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