'UDF govt betraying Kerala by yielding to Sangh Parivar agenda on PM SHRI scheme': Pinarayi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticised the UDF government's decision to implement the PM SHRI scheme, describing it as a "serious betrayal" of secular Kerala. In a Facebook post, he accused the UDF government of bowing to the Sangh Parivar's "saffronisation agenda."

He also rejected Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan's claim that Kerala cannot withdraw from the PM SHRI scheme. Pinarayi said the latest Parliament records prove otherwise.

"The Central government has informed Parliament that states can withdraw from the PM SHRI scheme at any time. It also said the only consequence would be the loss of the scheme's financial assistance. The reply was given to a Rajya Sabha question raised by Muslim League MP P.V. Abdul Wahab. The Centre also informed Parliament that Kerala has neither implemented the PM SHRI scheme nor received any funds under the scheme. The reply was given to another Rajya Sabha question raised by Congress MP Jebi Mather," Pinarayi wrote.

The Opposition leader alleged that the UDF's eagerness to implement the scheme, despite there being no legal compulsion, is only aimed at pleasing the Sangh Parivar.

Pinarayi also accused the UDF of compromising Kerala's public education sector. He claimed that the previous LDF government had protected the state's education sector from the RSS's "communal syllabus" over the past 10 years.