On Thursday, a city session court granted interim anticipatory bail to five students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in a case for displaying banners and posters with allegedly ‘objectionable matter’ on the campus.
Additional session judge V D Nimbalkar stated, “In the event of arrest, the student be released on bail on executing a personal bond of Rs 30,000 each with a surety of the like amount.” The next for the case is on 6th Feb.
The complaint has been lodged by Rutuja Mane, a women’s wing president of Hindu Bandhav Samajik Sanstha at Deccan Police station for hurting the sentiment of Hindu people. The five students were booked under section 153-B (1) (c) and 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Hindutva Goons Bullying FTII Students
On 23rd Jan, Tuesday, a student’s union organized a peaceful protest at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, against the Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration.
This protest was under the banner “Remembering Babri Death of Constitution FTII Students Association, Fall In Shall Rise, Ram Mandir Temple of Shame.” As more students started joining the protest, a group of men with saffron scarves entered the campus, chanting “Jai Shree Ram” and one man was captured in the video saying, “We would destroy not one but a thousand more Babris (mosque).”
This right-wing Hindutva goon burned banner and attacked several students. According to the press note issued by the Student Association, the association’s president Mankap Nokwoham, and the student body’s general secretary Sayantan Chakrabarti were violently attacked and brutally beaten by the goons. A female student was physically attacked by one of the men. Students accusing the security of the Institute inactive and faculty members of being mere observers questioned, “Even after strong security at the entrance gate, How did these men enter the campus?” 
On 22nd Jan, there was a screening of Anand Patwardhan’s documentary “Ram Ke Naam” by the same body. This too was interrupted, during the film a staff member started shouting slogans but couldn’t stop the film.
Based on an FTII security officer’s complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against 12 to 15 Hindutva members who had entered the campus.
Freedom of Expression in India
“What about the freedom of expression and the right to dissent?” is the question we need to ask. Is it not under threat? How screening a documentary and protesting peaceful will hurt religious beliefs?
When a mosque has been demolished and a huge temple has been built with the slogan “Marenge ya Marege, Mandir wahi Banayenge”, who do u think, is the real threat?
