Students of India's premiere Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on Wednesday called off their strike that kicked off 139 days ago to oppose the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the Chairman of the institution.

However, they will continue their protest against Chauhan's appointment alongside their classes, which according to the institute's student body, will resume soon.

"We are respecting what all the students want and will rejoin classes. We have tried every democratic means to make our voice heard," The Times of India quoted a representative of FTII students association as saying.

He said that they will not hold any other meetings with the government until they nullify the appointments of Chauhan and four others who were appointed members of the FTII society. 

"We will not engage with the information and broadcasting ministry in any talks till these appointments are revoked," the representative said.

He urged the other academicians and the citizens to support them in their protest against the appointment of Chauhan, who they claim does not have "significant contribution/work to even qualify as a footnote or a passing reference in the history of Indian cinema and television".

"We will go back to cinema and our work will show what we have learnt in last 139 days. We call upon all academicians and citizens to take our voice forward," the representative said.

The FTII students started their protest on 12 June and gained the support of noted filmmakers and students of several other institutes across the nation. They held several meetings with the I&B Ministry, but failed to come to an accord with the government.

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