Madurai: Youth who assisted IAS officer U Sagayam during his investigations into the illegal granite scam in Madurai categorically say that they do not want him to enter politics and prefer him to serve the people as a bureaucrat.
Many youth associations from Madurai have boycotted the youth awakening organised by Tiruchy-based volunteer organisation called ‘Ilakku’ here on Sunday to mobilise support and persuade Sagayam to contest as their CM candidate in the forthcoming assembly elections.
“We want him to continue his crusade against corruption as bureaucrat. If Sagayam sir enters politics he will be dragged into unnecessary controversies,” said A Ravichandran, vice president of Arittapatti Village Panchayat near Madurai.
Ravichandran, is a member of ‘Aivukkuzhu Atharavu Iyakkam’ (Sagayam committee support group), a volunteer orgainsation, which motivated people to come forward to file their grievances against the illegal granite scam during the inquiry.
The youth also fears that involving Sagayam in politics without his approval would damage his reputation by giving a political colour to the investigation.
S. Nedunthezhiyan, organizer of ‘Nanal Nanbargal’, a youth group addressing environment issues in Madurai, said: “The legal commissioner Sagayam has completed the investigation of the illegal granite mining only in Madurai. It needs to extend the inquiry into other parts of the state,” adding that “at this juncture, the youth should stand behind him still the completion of the investigations instead of causing him worries.”
Labelling the ‘Ilakku’ as an immature group, Ravichandran said that members of this group have failed to understand the ideas Sagayam propagates. “Sagayam first wants each one of us to understand our socio-economic and culture background and work for the betterment of our village in micro level,” he said, adding, that only this would be long lasting social change in the society.
Sagayam, who hails from a farming background, was transferred to nearly 20 different places because he stood for honest and corrupt free administration, but he never stopped serving the people, he pointed out.
These youth should try to imbibe this quality from him and follow in their everyday life before entering into politics. “The group wants Sagayam to be their CM candidate, but how are they going to nominate candidates for remaining 233 constituencies for the state. Will they find the other candidates with similar quality?” asks Shanmugha Velu, general secretary of ‘Samam Kudimakkal Iyakkamn’, a human right organization from Madurai.
A few youth associations want Sagayam to enter politics, but they do not want the people to force him on this issue. “If Sagayam gives an open call, we will work for him,” said Annadurai coordinator of Satta Panchayat Iyakkam.
Some other youths also kept away from the function because they did not get official invitation from the ‘Ilakku’.
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