New Delhi: Another IAS officer has quit the service, saying it was “unethical” for him to continue as a civil servant when “the fundamental building blocks of our diverse democracy are being compromised” and that it simply “cannot be business as usual anymore”.

S. Sasikanth Senthil, a 2009 batch Karnataka IAS officer, was the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district. Late last month, IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan also resigned, citing the government’s continued clampdown on communication in Kashmir.

In his resignation letter, Senthil wrote:

“I also feel strongly that the coming days will present extremely difficult challenges to the basic fabric of our nation and that I would be better off outside the IAS to continue with my work at making life better for all.”

The 40-year-old, who is from Tamil Nadu, said his decision “is purely a personal one” and denied it had any connection to his work as the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada. He concluded his letter by expressing his “heartfelt gratitude” for all who have worked with him

Also Read: ‘This is Not the 1970s’: IAS Officer Quits in Anguish Over Kashmir ‘Emergency’

Senthil took charge as deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada in June 2017, The Hindu reported. He has previously worked as an assistant commissioner in Ballari between 2009 and 2012 and was the chief executive officer of Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat for two terms. The IAS officer also the deputy commissioner of Chitradurga and Raichur districts. Senthil was the director in the mines and geology department since November 2016.

Kannan Gopinathan, attached to the government of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, resigned from the IAS on August 21. Speaking to The Wire, he said he was opposed to the suspension of freedoms in Kashmir. “Of course, unlike the Emergency, there has been no [formal] proclamation. Everything has been left to executive orders by IAS officers! And though people are not barred from seeking judicial remedies, the courts do not appear keen to act”.

He received orders to report back to duty, but refused to do so, calling his resignation a “closed matter”.