IRS Officer Faces Repeated Discipline for Activism on Tamil Rights, Hindi Imposition and Other Social Causes
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IRS officer B Balamurugan has frequently clashed with authorities over issues like the Sri Lankan civil war, Hindi imposition, and the swearing-in of PM Modi. He has undertaken hunger strikes and protests.
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In 2009, he began a hunger strike over the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka's civil war. In 2014, he protested against PM Modi's appointment citing the 2002 Gujarat riots.
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In 2020, he objected to being posted to the Hindi cell despite not knowing Hindi, calling it Hindi imposition. The same year, he demanded a probe into former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's death.
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His frequent activism has resulted in disciplinary action and scuttled promotions. However, Balamurugan remains committed to social causes and has published books on political issues.
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Despite the latest suspension stripping him of retirement benefits, Balamurugan says he won't fight it legally and prefers to focus on social interest issues instead.