After five days of an indefinite hunger strike demanding the release of central education funds, Tiruvallur Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil ended his fast on Tuesday, following the advice of senior party leaders and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Senthil, a former IAS officer, had launched his fast-unto-death on Friday at the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) office in Tiruvallur. As his health worsened, he was shifted from Tiruvallur Government Hospital to Chennai’s Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital but continued his hunger strike from there.
On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee president Selvaperundhagai visited him at the hospital and persuaded him to end his protest. He broke the fast by drinking fruit juice in the presence of party workers.
At the heart of Senthil’s protest lies a demand for the Union government to release ₹2,152 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a centrally-sponsored scheme meant to strengthen school education. According to him, the delay has directly affected the future of 43 lakh students and 2.2 lakh teachers in Tamil Nadu.
“Withholding these funds is a violation of constitutional principles and undermines children’s right to equitable education,” Senthil said, urging citizens to raise their voices and demand accountability from the Centre.
The protest drew significant political attention. Rahul Gandhi personally called Senthil to express solidarity, praising his fight for education. Congress whip B Manickam Tagore also wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, calling the Centre’s action an “attack on federalism and democracy.”
Teachers’ associations, including members of the Federation of Secondary Grade Teachers, visited Senthil to extend their support, while state minister SM Nasar also met him in hospital.
For Senthil, the issue goes beyond partisan politics.
“This struggle is not personal. It is about safeguarding Tamil Nadu’s education system from political bias and linguistic imposition,” he said.
The hunger strike may have ended, but the controversy over the SSA funds is expected to continue, with the demand for release of allocations gaining momentum both in Tamil Nadu and nationally.
