He said that he undertook the strike since the Union BJP government had been destroying the educational rights and dreams of the people of Tamil Nadu, particularly its students.
Published Sep 02, 2025 | 10:38 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 02, 2025 | 10:38 AM
MP Sasikanth Senthil after ending the hunger strike.
Synopsis: MP Sasikanth Senthil decided to temporarily withdraw his hunger strike against the Union government for not releasing the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan funds to Tamil Nadu. He made the decision after accepting the appeal of Congress leaders.
Congress leader and Tiruvallur MP Sasikanth Senthil decided to temporarily withdraw his hunger strike against the Union government for not releasing the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds to Tamil Nadu. In a press release dated Monday, 1 September, he made the decision after accepting the appeal of Congress leaders.
He said that he undertook the strike since the Union BJP government had been destroying the educational rights and dreams of the people of Tamil Nadu, particularly its students.
“The BJP has always followed an anti-Tamil approach. I knew this very well from the very beginning of this struggle; it is in their nature. In the days to come, Tamil Nadu and the Tamil people must come forward strongly to resist and fight the BJP in order to protect their rights,” he said.
Senthil began the hunger strike on Friday, 29 August, demanding the Union government immediately release all pending instalments along with the ₹2,152 crore due to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
“I aim to bring this atrocity to public attention. The BJP has unjustly withheld funds for school education. Because of this, the Right to Education scheme cannot be implemented, and nearly four lakh students are being affected. There are many components in SSA, and all of them are important,” he had told South First earlier.
He said it was deeply disappointing that the Union government, led by the BJP, refuses to listen to the rightful demands raised for the people of Tamil Nadu.
“Even when the future of poor, underprivileged, and backward-class school children is at stake, the BJP government continues to pursue its authoritarianism and arrogance. The Tamil people have been closely watching these anti-Tamil actions,” he said.
The MP had said that any ideological or policy differences with the government should be resolved through dialogue.
“I firmly believe that this struggle will serve as a forerunner to the bigger battles we must wage in the future for the welfare of the people. Standing by the people’s issues and fighting against their hardships, as well as eliminating social inequalities, is the fundamental principle of the Congress party,” he added.
Senthil said the Congress has always carried a legacy of struggles throughout history. “As a Congress worker, I undertook this hunger strike in line with that core ideology. Yet, the struggle ahead of us is long and arduous. We must unite and fight strongly from many fronts,” he said.
“Considering my health condition, doctors, leaders from the INDIA Alliance, friends from various parties and organisations, and well-wishers have been insisting that I give up the hunger strike,” he added.
He said the national leadership of the party, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, urged him to accept their request.
“This struggle has given me the opportunity to bring the gravity of this issue to the attention of the people. To carry forward the long battle for students’ educational rights with even greater vigour, I am temporarily ending my hunger strike, respecting the appeals of everyone,” he added.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
