‘Pitting people against people is not good governance’: Congress MP from TN Sasikanth Senthil

After taking oath, Cong MP from TN Sasikanth Senthil raised a slogan against atrocities on minorities, Dalits and Adivasis.

Sasikanth Senthil interview, Sasikanth Senthil, Congress, Tamil Nadu Congress, Indian express news, current affairs

Congress MP from TN Sasikanth Senthil

After taking oath, Cong MP from TN Sasikanth Senthil raised a slogan against atrocities on minorities, Dalits and Adivasis. The EX-civil servant speaks to Nikhila Henry

Why did you raise the slogan?

For the past ten years the government has been peddling violence against the most oppressed of people. I asked them to stop this kind of politics.

What kind of politics are you referring to?

Winning and losing in elections is one thing, but pitting people against people is not good governance. It shows the government’s authoritarian tendency.

Can you list a few things the government should stop?

The government should stop bulldozing people’s homes. That is not justice. It should stop changing the lifestyles of Adivasis and Dalits.

Why raise the slogan during the oath, though?

When we are taking the oath by the Constitution, what else do we mean? We mean we will stand by the most downtrodden of people. Hence the slogan was apt at the time.

What would you want to do to stop atrocities?

As an MP I will stand with the vulnerable people. I will raise my voice against atrocities. I will stand by the Constitution.

Nikhila Henry

Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice. Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India. Expertise & Focus Areas Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include: Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India. Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism. Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities. National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting. Authoritativeness & Trust A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society. Find all stories by Nikhila Henry here. ... Read More

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