Sivankutty Slams CPI Over Kerala’s Exit From PM SHRI School Project
A fresh rift has emerged within Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) after Education Minister V Sivankutty criticised the Communist Party of India (CPI) for its remarks on the state government’s withdrawal from the Centre’s PM SHRI school project.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sivankutty said the LDF government had taken a “collective and well-considered” decision after detailed discussions, and there was no question of any single party claiming credit. “No one needs to teach the CPI(M) how to uphold Left values,” he said, visibly upset over how the issue was being portrayed, he said.
The minister explained that the government had initially signed up for the PM SHRI scheme only to secure Kerala’s constitutionally entitled central funds, while ensuring that the state’s secular and progressive education system remained intact.
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“We had made sure there would be no compromise on our secular ethos,” Sivankutty said, adding that the decision to pull out was taken only after wider consultations within the coalition.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had informed the cabinet on Wednesday that the letter of withdrawal had already been sent to the Centre. Sivankutty hinted that the move could impact access to around Rs 15,000 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) scheme. “If those funds are withheld, the responsibility does not lie with me as Education Minister,” he asserted.
CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam, responding to Sivankutty’s comments, urged calm and political maturity. “I do not know why Sivankutty is so agitated,” he said, while declining to escalate the matter. “I am not a teacher to Sivankutty. If he needs advice, the CPI(M) leadership can give it,” Viswam remarked.
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Viswam reiterated that the decision to withdraw from the PM SHRI project was a reaffirmation of the Left’s ideological stand. “This is a victory for Left ideology,” he said, clarifying that the PM SHRI and SSK schemes were separate. He accused the BJP of “deliberately trying to mix up the two” to create confusion.
“The SSK fund is Kerala’s rightful due, and the LDF will face the Centre politically if it tries to play foul,” Viswam added.
