The Kerala government’s decision to join the PM-SHRI scheme to access substantial Central grants for school education has roiled ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) coalition politics.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has taken strong exception to the move, which it has deemed as an implicit acceptance of the “RSS’ majoritarian nationalism-inspired“ National Education Policy (NEP).
PM-SHRI scheme: Kerala’s Opposition accuses CPI(M) of bowing to Centre’s pressure
The CPI has strongly signalled that the CPI(M) had not taken LDF allies onboard or consulted the Cabinet before “surreptitiously” enrolling in the scheme.
The CPI noted that the BJP had insisted, in an allegedly anti-constitutional manner, that States accept the PM-SHRI scheme for the release of obligatory Central grants for education. It felt the government had no reason to bow to the Centre’s pressure on the core issue, given that “federalism and secular education were at stake.”
