‘Like asking a DGP to do a constable’s job’; Sreelekha opens up on resignation controversy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former DGP R Sreelekha explained the circumstances that led her to consider resigning as a councillor. She said that she had been under immense pressure as a councillor. She compared the experience to asking someone who had served as a Director General of Police (DGP) to perform a constable’s duties. Her response was through her YouTube channel, ‘Sasneham Sreelekha’.

‘Sreelekha has not resigned from the party. I will remain a proud member of the BJP for the rest of my life. The BJP is the best national party I believe in. Is there any point in saying, even after nine months, that the reason for my resignation is that I wasn't made the mayor? That is all in the past, isn’t it? I am not someone who wants to join another party. I am a Modi devotee.

I have been going through immense pressure. I have been running around without even getting a day of rest on Sundays. Whenever there is an event or a problem somewhere, people expect me to go there. I usually do so. But after a point, you start feeling that you cannot manage it anymore.

There have been several issues in the Sasthamangalam ward. There is no anganwadi there, and the primary health centre does not have a building. Elderly residents have to travel all the way to Nanthancodu even to get an injection. We struggled hard to get a clear site for a public toilet, but permission for it has still not been granted.

She also described the poor facilities at her councillor’s office. The computer, printer, Wi-Fi and telephone connection in my office are all not working. The only chair there is broken and worn out. If I sit on it, my back hurts. During these times, I have been working under these circumstances, I have submitted around 12 or 13 letters to the mayor.

There is a limit to what the mayor can do. Recommendations are being sent one after another by different people. He marks the files and forwards them to the concerned sections. But the clerks, superintendents and officers working in those sections may be supporters of the party that has been in power for the past 45 years. A proposal submitted by a councillor, particularly a BJP councillor, may simply remain pending there. We then have to keep running around after it, which becomes exhausting,’ she said.

Sreelekha said delays in resolving these issues had caused her considerable distress. It was in this context that she wrote to the mayor, warning that she would resign as councillor if the problems were not addressed.

‘Eventually, I became unwell. My blood pressure shot up. People in the WhatsApp group sharing councillors’ announcements and update, spoke very badly about me. I was in the hospital when I shared the information in that WhatsApp group that I had submitted my resignation letter to the mayor. Senior leaders of the party then came to the hospital and tried to console me. That is why I am still continuing as a councillor,’ added the councillor.