Rahul Gandhi is in Pune to meet students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), who have been on strike for nearly two months over the appointment of television actor Gajendra Singh as their chairman.


Addressing a small group of students the Congress vice-president, dressed casually and a T-shirt and jeans said he was here because their voice was not being heard. Talking about the Gajendra Chauhan, Rahul said, "If the student body doesn't want you (Gajendra Chauhan), then you clearly should not be there. The RSS and its wings promote mediocrity. I have seen this everywhere. This is not simply about this school, this is being done to the entire country."


Around 250 students of the Pune-based film training institute have boycotted classes and refused to return unless Chauhan is removed. Some students had approached the Congress vice president for help with their campaign and urged him to take it to Parliament. The protesters had met Union Information and Broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley on July 3 but nothing came of it.


In a letter, the students have asked Rahul Gandhi to take up their cause like he had when the IIT Madras banned the Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle. The ban was revoked last month after protests.