Indian-born businessman Satish Sehgal yesterday announced he would end his political activity with the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).
CAPTURING THE MOMENT: Satish Sehgal poses for a photo with a PDRC supporter at the Sala Daeng intersection rally site yesterday after announcing he would end his political activity.
His announcement came after a news report that the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) ordered authorities to proceed with deportation procedures.
The CMPO led by caretaker labour minister Chalerm Yubamrung accused Mr Sehgal, who joined the PDRC's anti-government movement, of defying the state of emergency.
Mr Sehgal said he was not a core-leader of the PDRC but in the past he had joined the movement because he wanted to protect Thailand and the monarchy and he never violated the law.
"I don't understand why the CMPO would have to expel me from the country. I'm innocent and think that I will get fair treatment in the society.
"[To keep the situation from getting worse] I have to stop playing a role in all political movements _ the members and PDRC core leaders are understanding about this matter," Mr Sehgal said while listening to PDRC's speeches at the PDRC stage in the Silom area yesterday. "From now on I have to return to take care of my ageing mother at home."
Mr Sehgal said that no matter what the outcome of the deportation case was, he would not move out of Thailand because the country was his home and he loved it. And having served as an adviser to commerce ministers, he said he would continue inviting Indian business people to invest in Thailand.
Mr Sehgal was a speaker at the PDRC rallies and led protesters in the Silom business district. It was also reported that he joined the blockade at the Civil Aviation Department on Jan 22.
As for the proposed deportation of Mr Sehgal, Mr Chalerm said the case rested with an Interior Ministry committee which would consider whether there were sufficient grounds for it.
"If it meets the criteria, I will have to sign [the deportation order]. But if it does not meet [the criteria], I won't."
Mr Chalerm said he was also waiting for a letter from National Human Rights Commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara, inviting him to testify on why the CMPO needs to expel Mr Sehgal from Thailand.
Department of Special Investigation director-general Tarit Pengdith said the proposed deportation of Mr Sehgal had been approved by the DSI and the Immigration Bureau.
Mr Tarit said the matter would be submitted to a committee chaired by the permanent-secretary for the interior before forwarding it to the CMPO.