Thiruvananthapuram | The UDF government's move to implement the PM SHRI scheme, which the Congress-led alliance had opposed tooth and nail while in opposition, has triggered a political storm in Kerala, with the opposition LDF on Thursday accusing the ruling dispensation of presenting an "incorrect" narrative on the matter.
Amid growing criticism on social media, including from UDF supporters, over the government's move, state Health Minister K Muraleedharan asserted that the initiative, signed during the previous Left government, will be implemented.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, rejected the UDF government’s claim regarding the PM SHRI scheme, saying it was never implemented in the state and that no funds were received under it.
Vijayan, at a press conference here, also claimed that implementation of the scheme was "frozen" or "kept in abeyance" by the LDF government right after it was signed, and that a letter was issued to the Centre communicating the same.
The Marxist veteran’s statement came a day after Chief Minister V D Satheesan claimed that his government was “forced to implement” the scheme as it had been signed by the previous LDF government, which also received funds in connection with it.
Reiterating the UDF government’s stand, Muraleedharan said the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India scheme will be implemented in Kerala, but the state will decide the curriculum.
"In many BJP-ruled states, references to the Mughal dynasty and its rule in India are being avoided. We will not do that. We will include it. History will be taught to children without any changes," he told reporters.
"The state government will select the schools where the scheme will be implemented. With these two conditions, PM SHRI will be implemented in Kerala. That is what the Cabinet decided," he added.
In his press conference, Vijayan said the new UDF government must disclose before the people what prompted it to change its policy and decide to implement the scheme.
"The UDF, which had strongly opposed the scheme, has to clarify the reasons for its change of stance," he said.
He questioned whether the government had obtained legal advice that the scheme must be implemented due to the agreement signed with the Centre, and said that if such advice exists, it should be made public.
Vijayan also said the central government had stated in Parliament that it had not given any funds under the scheme to Kerala.
"The funds that we got were those under the Samagra Shiksha Kerala initiative. It has no connection with PM SHRI. So, on what basis were factually incorrect remarks made at the CM level regarding the receipt of funds?" he asked.
He said that without fulfilling the scheme’s requirements, the Centre would not sanction any funds, and that the previous government had not taken the necessary steps under the initiative.
Vijayan further claimed that a state can withdraw from the scheme even after signing the agreement, citing Punjab as an example.
"So, it is incorrect to claim that you cannot withdraw from it as the agreement has been signed," he added.
Congress ally IUML is in a fix as it was one of the strongest opponents of the scheme, and its leaders had asserted that the initiative would be scrapped if the UDF came to power.
Indian Union Muslim League leader and state Minister for Local Self Government, K M Shaji, said a newly formed government cannot immediately withdraw from an agreement entered into by the previous administration.
"We need time to decide how to go forward with it," the minister said.
He said the government has made it clear it will approve an education system which conforms to the culture of Kerala.
During the election campaign, Shaji had said the scheme "would be thrown into the Arabian Sea" if the UDF came to power, later clarifying that it was a rhetorical remark made during campaigning.
During the previous LDF government, a controversy had erupted over the inking of the PM SHRI agreement with the Centre, as CPI(M) ally CPI strongly opposed the initiative, forcing the Left administration to put it on hold.
On Wednesday, the government formed a four-member Cabinet sub-committee to study all aspects of the initiative, including the legal position of the agreement signed with the Centre.
