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The stand-off between Kerala’s ruling CPI(M) and its junior ally CPI over the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme appears to have ended, with the CPI(M)-led government announcing a review of its MoU for the scheme.
After the state cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media that a seven-member cabinet sub-committee has been constituted to review the MoU signed with the Union government. “Until the sub-committee, headed by General Education Minister V Sivankutty, submits its report, further proceedings with regard to implementing the scheme will be suspended. This decision will be communicated to the Union Government,” he said.
The government’s decision to roll out the PM SHRI project had sparked a political storm in Kerala, where the Left government had refused for three years to sign the MoU, calling the project a “tool for saffronisation of education.” However, the cash-strapped government decided to go ahead with it to unlock funds worth Rs 1,500 crore that the Union government had allegedly withheld over the state’s refusal to join the scheme.
The CPI, the second-largest ally in the LDF, had protested, saying it was kept in the dark about the decision. CPI general secretary D Raja urged the CPI(M) to freeze the MoU, stating the party could not support the NEP, “which is a reactionary and dangerous policy of the BJP. The NEP is to promote commercialisation, communalisation and centralisation of education,” he said.
The CPI(M) did not want to prolong the impasse over PM SHRI, especially with local body elections set to be announced next month. At the same time, it has backed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the issue.
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