Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil was hospitalised on Saturday night after his health deteriorated during an indefinite hunger strike demanding the release of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme for Tamil Nadu.
Senthil had launched the hunger strike citing the Centre’s delay in disbursing nearly Rs 2,000 crore allocated under the SSA scheme. He alleged that the funds were being withheld due to the Tamil Nadu government’s refusal to implement the National Education Policy (NEP).
The MP was admitted to the Tiruvallur Government Medical College Hospital with high blood pressure. “I am admitted… with high blood pressure on the second day of my indefinite hunger strike, demanding Tamil Nadu’s rightful funds under SSA. I am under proper medical care and remain steady,” Senthil said in a post on social media platform X.
State Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Chief Minister M K Stalin have also raised the issue, criticising the Centre for allegedly politicising education funding and penalising Tamil Nadu for its stance against the NEP.
Senthil had earlier raised the matter in Parliament and written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging immediate release of the pending funds.
According to the MP, the delay has adversely impacted key education initiatives in the state, including the disbursement of Right to Education (RTE) funds and payment of salaries to teachers.
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