Former general education minister V Sivankutty has refuted the statement made by Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan, denying that the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had received any funds under the PM SHRI scheme. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Sivankutty clarified that the LDF government had not accepted any financial assistance from the central government under the scheme, contrary to Satheesan's recent remarks.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy erupted after CM Satheesan claimed that the LDF government had availed of the PM SHRI funds during its tenure. Satheesan made this statement while announcing that the current government would continue with the PM Shri scheme but with certain conditions. However, Sivankutty, a senior LDF leader, categorically denied this, stating that no such funds were ever received by the state during the LDF rule.
Sivankutty's Clarification
Sivankutty said, “The LDF government never took any money under the PM SHRI scheme. The claim made by the Chief Minister is incorrect. We had objections to the scheme’s implementation and therefore did not avail of the funds.” He further added that the LDF had always maintained that the scheme was an attempt by the central government to interfere in the state's education policy.
Government's Stand on PM SHRI
Earlier, CM Satheesan had announced that the state would continue with the PM SHRI scheme after renegotiating certain conditions. He had also stated that the previous government had received funds under the scheme, which Sivankutty has now denied. The issue has sparked a political debate in the state, with both parties exchanging barbs over the matter.
Reactions from Political Circles
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has backed Satheesan's claim, while the LDF has accused the Chief Minister of misleading the public. The matter is likely to be discussed in the upcoming assembly session.
In related news, the Kerala government continues to focus on education reforms, with the health department also releasing a dry day calendar to combat communicable diseases. Meanwhile, the KSEB’s power plan faces challenges due to an El Niño block, and the tourism department is yet to act on acquiring land for the ICCC project.
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