CPI strengthens opposition to PM SHRI scheme as Congress intensifies attack on LDF govt

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI on Wednesday took a firmer stance against General Education Minister V Sivankutty's decision to join the Centre's PM SHRI scheme.

CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam, speaking to the media, emphasised that the National Education Policy (NEP) would not be implemented in Kerala under any circumstances. "From what I understand, the central government will only provide the designated funds if the NEP is fully implemented," he said.

Binoy said that CPM general secretary M A Baby had already categorically made it clear that the NEP would not be implemented in Kerala. The CPI also shares similar views of CPM that the PM SHRI, which reflects the RSS agenda, cannot be implemented in the state, the leader added.

Binoy's remarks came amidst a section of media reports that the CPI ministers raised strong concerns about the central scheme in a cabinet meeting held here.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan continued to criticise the Left government over its decision to join the PM SHRI. Satheesan urged the state government not to accept the conditions that seek to impose the BJP's alleged communal politics along with the central funds.

He further said that the BJP's agenda to impose communal politics is embedded in the PM SHRI scheme. "If the state government intervenes to remove such conditions and accepts the central funds, the opposition will have no objection. After all, the central funds do not belong to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's family," Satheesan added.

While replying to reporters' queries in Alappuzha, Venugopal said Kerala has been witnessing a "BJP-CPM deal" in many issues for some time. "The PM-SHRI is one among such matters. That's why the state government has taken such a deviation from the party's proclaimed stand," he alleged. He also said people of the state are now asking about the reason for this policy shift.

However, senior BJP leader and former union minister V Muraleedharan urged the Communist leaders to stop playing "hide-and-seek" over PM SHRI.

Stating that the Kerala government has no valid reason to oppose the PM SHRI scheme, he said it has been the CPM's tradition to oppose every good initiative at first. "Children should not be denied a better future just because they are born in Kerala," he said, urging the Pinarayi government to clearly declare that the NEP would be implemented in the state.

As the nation moves forward rapidly, Kerala must learn to stand with that progress-- by abandoning "opportunism and double standards", Muraleedharan said in a statement.

Education Minister Sivankutty recently announced that the state would join the PM SHRI scheme to get the due central funds, but asserted that it would not backtrack from the existing educational policy in the state.