Though admitted to Chennai’s Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, Senthil continued his protest on the fourth consecutive day.
Published Sep 01, 2025 | 6:24 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 01, 2025 | 6:24 PM
Sasikanth Senthil was shifted to a hospital on Sunday.
Synopsis: Senthil began the hunger strike on Friday, 29 August, demanding the Union government immediately release all pending installments along with the ₹2,152 crore due to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil continued his indefinite hunger strike on Monday, 1 September, despite AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, and Tamil Nadu Congress chief K Selvaperunthagai urging him to call off the protest.
Senthil began the hunger strike on Friday, 29 August, demanding the Union government immediately release all pending installments along with the ₹2,152 crore due to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
Though admitted to Chennai’s Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, Senthil continued his protest on the fourth consecutive day.
South First spoke to him at the hospital.
When asked why he suddenly launched the protest now, he said the issue was “very serious”.
“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 said.
The MP from Tiruvalluvar, any ideological or policy differences with the government should be resolved through dialogue.
“You can’t hold children hostage. If a child misses school for 10 days, it often leads to permanent dropout. Children are being pushed into such a situation. That is why this is not an issue we can wait patiently — it must be corrected immediately.”
On whether the Tamil Nadu government was supporting his protest, he said ministers Mano Thangaraj and SM Nasar had visited him.
“The Tamil Nadu government has already taken several steps. It negotiated with the Union government, sent letters, and did everything possible. We have also raised questions in Parliament. We fought in every way. But there has been no meaningful response,” he said.
On Monday morning, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi spoke to Senthil over the phone.
“They expressed concern about my health. But I remain firm in my goal,” he said.
When asked if Gandhi had advised him to continue the protest, he said, “Rahul Gandhi supports all our work. But he is worried about my health. Even so, I will continue the struggle.”
Political circles were abuzz with rumours that Senthil had not received any major backing from the Tamil Nadu Congress. Recently, Selvaperunthagai told reporters that Senthil’s protest should not divert attention from Gandhi’s Vote Chori campaign at the national level, and therefore, he should call off the protest immediately.
Senthil, however, said it was not true. “No, he didn’t mean that way. When he met me, he explained that at this time, attention should be focused on one issue. Otherwise, I have the full support of the Tamil Nadu Congress.”
Former TNCC leader KC Alagiri and leaders of the INDIA bloc parties also met Senthil and expressed their support.
When asked whether he expected the Union Government to heed his protest, he replied in the negative. “No, I don’t think so. But that doesn’t mean we can remain silent.”
“My protest will definitely make an impact among the people. We will take this struggle to the people, and they will question that party. Because the party ruling at the Union is also involved in Tamil Nadu politics. When they cannot even ensure funds for our children’s education, the people will ask what politics they are doing,” he said.
Recently, BJP leaders had linked Senthil with the Dharamsthala controversy.
“I have no connection whatsoever,” he refuted the charge. “I will file defamation cases against everyone making such claims. When I was Deputy Commissioner there, I handled the case of Janardhan Reddy, known as a mining mafia leader. He is also running this campaign against me, along with others opposed to my ideology. I will sue them all,” the MP said.
Senthil rejected rumours that the protest was to spur his chances to become the state Congress president. “I have no such ambition. I already serve as the national war room chief, responsible for the ideological work for the 2029 elections. I am doing that work at the national level. I have no interest in these matters. I fully support the current TNCC president and his team. This protest is only my personal duty as an MP, nothing more,” he said, vowing to continue to protest as long as he can.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
