SRFTI Campus Unrest Deepens: BJP Hits Back at Naseeruddin Shah over 'White Lie'

The ongoing turmoil at Kolkata’s prestigious Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) has escalated into a major political and administrative storm following widespread campus unrest, property damage, and a physical attack on Vice Chancellor (VC) Santosh Ajmera. The controversy intensified after veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah released a public video extending unequivocal solidarity to the agitating students, directly targeting the Central Government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a swift and aggressive counter-offensive, senior BJP leader and former state unit president Rahul Sinha slammed Shah's statements as a "white lie" and alleged an international conspiracy to subvert democratic stability. Meanwhile, confronted with unprecedented administrative disruption and campus vandalism, the SRFTI authorities have initiated severe disciplinary crackdowns, rusticating six students for a full year and halting all academic classes until November 13, 2026, to restore institutional order.

Campus Chronology: How Security Measures Sparked Weeks of Blockades and Violence

According to formal administrative reports released by the institute, the confrontation began as an agitation against basic safety and infrastructure upgrades before deteriorating into physical confrontations:

• The Spark Over Surveillance and Boundaries: The conflict began when the administration initiated perimeter enhancements—including installing surveillance CCTV cameras across strategic pathways, elevating campus boundary walls, and erecting security fencing to reinforce campus safety, specifically for female scholars. A faction of students strongly opposed these measures, viewing them as surveillance overreach.

• Unauthorized Infiltration on September 27: The standoff turned combative on September 27, when groups of students entered an institutional event without authorization, triggering disruptions and skirmishes.

• VC Held Hostage on October 4: The crisis deepened when nearly 250 students surrounded and gheraoed Vice Chancellor Santosh Ajmera at the institution’s primary gateway, detaining him on-site until 11:00 PM.

• Office Takeover and Direct Assault: From October 6 onward, dozens of agitators seized the VC's administrative office for 48 hours, destroying official furnishings and equipment. The violence culminated on October 15 when a student physically assaulted the Vice Chancellor, followed by heavy stone-pelting at the directorate building the following morning.

Naseeruddin Shah’s Viral Video: Allegations of Political Retaliation and Intimidation

The campus friction acquired nationwide visibility after prominent cinema figures intervened with statements of support:

• Attacking Central Policies: In an address directed to the demonstrating scholars, Naseeruddin Shah voiced complete solidarity with the campus agitation while mounting a sharp political critique against the ruling dispensation.

• Allegations of Post-Poll Vendetta: The veteran actor claimed that the Central Government and the BJP were carrying out administrative retaliation against independent artistic voices and ideological opponents in West Bengal, asserting that authorities were deploying fear tactics to brainwash student bodies.

• Creative Industry Alignment: Adding to the celebrity backing, acclaimed independent filmmaker Payal Kapadia joined Shah in endorsing the students' platform, questioning administrative measures taken by the institute's leadership.

BJP Counter-Offensive: Rahul Sinha Alleges 'International Conspiracy' and Fabrications

Reacting strongly to the actor's accusations, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a rebuttal defending the administrative actions:

• Dismissal as a 'White Lie': Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha rejected Shah’s narrative, characterizing his defense of the agitators as an absolute falsehood aimed at shielding unlawful violence and vandalism under the pretext of artistic freedom.

• Demands for High-Level Inquiries: Sinha called for a comprehensive probe into the controversy, alleging that external political forces and foreign-aligned networks frequently exploit student agitation to destabilize educational hubs and undermine democratic governance.

• Institutional Sources Push Back: Administrative sources within SRFTI dismissed Shah’s intervention, stressing that he holds no formal administrative stake in the academic body and warning that inciting non-compliance jeopardizes the educational future of young film students.

Disciplinary Crackdown: Suspensions, Rustications, and Classes Halted Till November 13

Faced with ongoing safety threats and damaged infrastructure, the SRFTI executive council has taken decisive disciplinary steps:

• One-Year Rustication for Six Students: Moving firmly against acts of physical intimidation and property damage, the administration has expelled six students for one full academic year on grounds of gross misconduct and assault.

• Temporary Academic Closure: To diffuse tensions, conduct repairs, and review campus security frameworks, all institutional classes and academic sessions remain completely suspended through November 13, 2026.

• Restoring a Peaceful Educational Atmosphere: The governing board emphasized that while creative expression remains the bedrock of SRFTI, physical violence against faculty, locking gate exits, and vandalizing public infrastructure will be met with zero tolerance under institutional bylaws.