RPI(A), NDA ally, demands Gajendra Chauhan quit FTII post

Mumbai: Republican Party of India president Ramdas Athawale on Saturday demanded that actor Gajendra Chauhan should immediately resign as the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India in view of the opposition to his appointment.

"Gajendra Chauhan has been mired in controversy since he was appointed as the chairman of FTII. Everybody including the students want him to step down. In such circumstances it becomes his moral responsibility to immediately step down from his post," Athawale said here.

The Athawale-led RPI faction is a part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, and also the NDA. He was speaking to reporters at the launch of his party's 'cine-wing'. Actress Salma Agha is the president of the wing.

Athawale said he would take up the issue of Chauhan's appointment with the Centre, and demanded the actor's dismissal if he refused to quit.

"We want him to resign from his post with dignity. If he refuses to do that, we will take up the issue with the Centre. If he still continues as the chairman of the premier institute, we will launch a state-wide protest...Actors Salma Agha, Rakhi Sawant and Hemant Birje will lead the protests," he said.