Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 8: In a boost for Congress, former IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil who quit civil services last year, is all set to make his political debut. He will join the Congress in Tamil Nadu on Monday November 9.
As IAS officer, Senthil had last served as deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, before quitting stating that he was unable to continue his service when the 'fundamental building blocks of diverse democracy are being compromised'.
A 2009-batch Karnataka cadre, Senthil will join the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) on Monday.
Taking to Twitter, Senthil announced his decision to join the party. "I would like to inform all that I have decided to join the Congress party in my effort to continue the fight. I have been an activist trying to be a voice for the less privileged all through my life, wherever I was and would continue the same until my last breath," he tweeted.
Sources said that Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao, who is also the AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, was instrumental in convincing Senthil to join the party.
In a detailed Twitter post, he stated the reasons that led him to join the Congress.
"'Fundamental building blocks of our diverse democracy are being compromised in an unprecedented manner. I also feel that the coming days would present extremely difficult challenges to the basic fabric of the nation.'
"This was what I wrote on 6 th September 2019, the day I left the service in search of a method to stem the totalitarian attack on the country that I so dearly love. I am reminded of the eerie silence that prevailed at the time when I had written my resignation letter. The country has come a long way since, and many of those who were complacent and surprised have now started understanding that India is under the attack of an anti-democratic, anti-pluralistic system in power which poses a threat to the very spirit of the country putting all of us and our children in great danger," he said.
"In this one year, I had an opportunity to experience the spirit of India. I had met some of the best human beings that I had ever seen in my life. I had visited many places, participated in many protests, interacted with young and courageous students, stood hand in hand with people who had nothing but love in their heart. I was able to contribute my bit to the great anti-NRC/CAA movement which proved to me that people in this country are ready to stand for one another. In fact, I realized that I belong to this family and should do anything and everything to be with and to fight for these shared values.
"I am also aware that the solution to this populist issue lies in bringing everyone together. The political parties, the civil society, the institutions, individuals, each and every one who believe in love, affection and peace should join together as a combined force. Every individual who believes in the constitutional values should join hands and be ready for any sacrifice to ensure the safety and peace of the underprivileged and the next generation. We cannot simply afford to let vested interests to fill India with hate and hand it over to our children.
"In that journey, I have decided to be a part of the Congress movement to realise this goal. Congress as a movement has always been one that is consistent with the founding ideologies of the constitution and that which moves with the people. The current leadership understands the spirit of this ideological fight and recognizes that India has to be for all. It believes in the power of cooperation, not competition. It believes in unity and harmony not divisiveness and hatred.
"Congress party is aware of the challenges that the 21st century poses for India and the world and is ready to find solutions alongside the people of the country. In the coming days I look forward to building this organization by travelling to corners of the country to spread the message of our Constitution and understanding our people and pondering on ways to make their lives better.
"Tamil Nadu is the final frontier for these divisive forces and I have a responsibility to maintain this Sparta as a symbol of no conquest within the country. It has overcome these ideological attacks very early in its history. I strongly believe that the Tamil people have always believed in social equity and will sacrifice anything to see their children in schools rather than to see them in the streets participating in communal riots.
"I will stand with them until my last breath to protect these core values of Tamil Nadu. I have remained an activist at heart and will continue to do so within the Congress party also," he said.
Senthil's entry into Congress is expected to boost the party's prospects ahead of the crucial elections in the state in mid-2021.
In August, IPS officer Annamalai quit police service to join the BJP. With two popular former public servants in the opposite ends of political spectrum, the elections are expected to be action-packed.
Senthil had resigned from civil services in September 2019, stating that he felt it was 'unethical' for him to continue as a civil servant in the government 'when the fundamental building blocks of diverse democracy are being compromised'. Since then, he has been vociferous critic of the BJP-led union government on a number of issues, particularly during the anti-CAA protests. In his strong-worded resignation letter that made national headlines, he stated, "I feel strongly that the coming days will present extremely difficult challenges to the basic fabric of the nation and that I would be better off outside the IAS to continue with my work at making life better for all. It simply cannot be business as usual."