Students from the Film and Television Institute of India on Wednesday called off their hunger strike and said they would go back to their classes, but would not engage in any more talks with government officials. The students said that their agitation, which started in June, had reached the public and they hoped that filmmakers, artistes and others would take their cause forward, The Indian Express reported.

The students have been protesting against the appointment of Bharatiya Janata Party worker Gajendra Chauhan as the institute’s chairman, saying they doubt his credentials and are suspicious of his involvement with the ruling party at the Centre. Chauhan, however, welcomed their decision to call off their strike, saying he would try to "win them over with hard work and positivity".

The students have also questioned the appointment of four Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh propagandists to the FTII panel. The strike has brought into focus concerns that the government has made high-level appointments to major institutes to push its own ideology. Government representatives have held several talks with the students, but these have not yielded any concrete solutions.