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Kerala Student Protest: Why PM SHRI Scheme Deal Sparks Political Firestorm

Kerala Students Union members are protesting the state government's decision to sign an MoU for the PM SHRI scheme. Congress MP KC Venugopal has called it a "back door" decision with a "secret agenda." He questioned why the agreement was signed without consulting the Cabinet or party leadership. The controversy highlights growing tensions between state and central education policies.

Key Points: Kerala Students Union Protests PM SHRI Scheme MoU Signing

  • Student union members marched to Education Minister's office in protest
  • Congress MP alleges secret agenda behind MoU signing
  • Questions raised about pressure for policy shift from central government
  • Similar scheme patterns observed in other Congress-ruled states
2 min read

Kerala Students' Union protests against State govt's decision of sigining MoU on PM SHRI scheme

Kerala Students Union marches against state government's PM SHRI agreement as Congress alleges "secret agenda" and backdoor decision-making in education policy.

"Decisions like signing the PM SHRI agreement without the knowledge of the Cabinet, the LDF, or even the party leadership raise serious questions. - KC Venugopal"

Thiruvananthapuram, October 27

Kerala Students' Union members on Monday marched towards the Education Minister's office in Thiruvananthapuram to protest against the state government's decision to sign an MoU on the Centre's PM SHRI scheme for school development.

The Kerala government signed an MoU on the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, commonly known as the PM SHRI scheme, said Director General of Public Education in Kerala, Umesh N. S. K, on Monday.

This decision of the state government is facing sharp criticism from the opposition parties and student organisations.

Earlier in the day, Congress MP KC Venugopal called the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government's move to sign an MoU for the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme a "back door" decision with a "secret agenda".

Speaking to reporters, Venugopal questioned the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] government, demanding a probe into the alleged pressure to make a "policy shift."

Venugopal said, "Decisions like signing the PM SHRI agreement without the knowledge of the Cabinet, the LDF, or even the party leadership raise serious questions. It must be investigated where this pressure came from to take such a decision through the back door. I believe that is what is most troubling for Kerala. This appears to be part of a secret agenda."

"It's not just a trip to Delhi; for some time now, we've been seeing decisions aligning with the communal policies of the Central Government. Even the CPI(M)'s all-India secretary seems to be under pressure, as the media suggests. The truth will come out in the coming days," he added.

Acknowledging an agreement on PM SHRI in Congress-ruled states, Venugopal said that they signed the MoU in the Ashok Gehlot government's final days, before the BJP came to power, while the Congress did not sign it in Himachal.

Venugopal said, "I have already pointed out that in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, the signing of this scheme followed a clear political pattern. In Rajasthan, the Congress government signed it in its final days, right before the BJP came to power. In Himachal, we didn't sign it; they did after coming to power. Telangana and Karnataka followed similar trends."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The backdoor signing without cabinet knowledge is very concerning. Kerala has always valued transparency in governance. This sets a dangerous precedent. 😟
A
Arjun K
As a parent, I welcome any scheme that improves school infrastructure. But the manner of implementation matters too. Hope this benefits our children without political strings attached.
M
Meera T
Kerala's education system has been our pride. We should be careful about central schemes that might dilute our state's educational autonomy and unique curriculum approach.
S
Sarah B
The pattern Venugopal mentioned is interesting - Congress states signing just before BJP comes to power. Seems like political games are being played with education. 🤔
V
Vikram M
Students protesting shows they're politically aware, which is good. But let's not forget - if the scheme brings better labs, libraries and classrooms, it's ultimately for their benefit.

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