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Under fire from its Left Democratic Front partner over adopting PM SHRI, the CPI(M)-led government defended its move, saying Kerala would lose Rs 1,500 crore unless the policy was implemented. However, it sought to allay CPI’s fears, assuring that “wrong syllabus of the Union Government will not be adopted in state schools”.
At a press conference, Education Minister and senior CPI(M) leader V Sivankutty responded to CPI’s charge that the government signed an MoU with the Centre without consulting its ally.
The CPI(M) government had earlier refused to implement the scheme, and CPI is upset at the shift, calling it a departure from Left principles. Sivankutty said non-implementation would have cost the state Rs 1,500 crore meant for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
“We have adopted a stand to ensure the state does not lose that aid. In Kerala, our education system has a tradition against communalism and imperialism. Our textbooks reflect that tradition. The NEP mentions states have the right to bring out textbooks. There is no ground for concern,” he said.
He added that the state could withdraw from the MoU anytime. “There is no question of surrendering the education policy the state has been following,” he said.
Sivankutty also dismissed BJP leader K Surendran’s remark that Kerala schools would have to teach about RSS leaders as a “dream”. “The state signed the MoU only to ensure funds are not lost,” he said.
The Pinarayi Vijayan government’s decision to proceed with the MoU came despite CPI’s strong objections. Soon after, CPI general secretary D Raja met CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby to “resolve the issue within Kerala itself”.
“This is not a matter to be decided between the general secretaries of CPI(M) and CPI. It has to be decided in Kerala. Let it be discussed in Kerala whether the stand (on PM SHRI) needs correction or not,” Baby had said.
The CPI, however, remains unconvinced. Taking a dig at Baby’s stand, CPI national secretariat member Prakash Babu said his “silent” response to calls for withdrawing from the scheme “had pained” him.
“His response was silent and I was pained over that,” Babu said. “Baby has expressed his helplessness on this issue.”
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