The Communist Party of India (CPI) has refused to back down on its strong opposition to the Kerala government’s decision to sign the PM SHRI school project with the central government, despite efforts by its coalition partner, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), to resolve the dispute.
General Education Minister V. Sivankutty (from the CPM) met with CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam and CPI leader G.R. Anil after the CPI accused the CPM of violating coalition principles by signing the project. The CPI leaders reportedly told the Minister that since the breach of left policy happened at the Cabinet level, the issue must be solved by the top leadership.
Minister Sivankutty reportedly admitted that there was a mistake in not informing the CPI ministers before signing the agreement. However, he defended the decision, saying it was necessary to secure central funds rightfully owed to the state without delay. He also assured the CPI leadership that the National Education Policy (NEP), which is part of the project, would not be implemented in Kerala, as the state’s syllabi and textbooks for the next two years are already fixed.
CPI Secretary Binoy Viswam rejected this explanation, arguing that the central government has included NEP-related clauses in the project. He pointed out that the NEP is part of the “BJP-RSS agenda” and is aimed at “communalising the education sector,” referencing changes to historical facts in textbooks in some states where NEP was adopted. Viswam challenged the Minister to show a guarantee in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the NEP would be excluded.
In a separate move to break the deadlock, CPI General Secretary D. Raja met with CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby in Delhi. Raja expressed the CPI’s strong disagreement with the CPM state leadership for going against declared Left policies and demanded corrective action. He reminded Baby that the NEP is an RSS-driven agenda and asked why Kerala could not reject the project like Tamil Nadu. Baby agreed to take up the matter at the state leadership level.
Efforts to officially resolve the dispute are expected to begin on Sunday, after the Chief Minister returns to the state. The CPI’s crucial state executive meeting will take place in Alappuzha on Monday, October 27, to finalize its decision.
With input from TNIE
For more details: Navamalayalam.com
