Congress leader says schemes are there to brainwash children: Pradhan slams Priyanka’s remarks on NEP, PM-SHRI

Asked about the NEP and the PM-SHRI scheme, Priyanka told reporters in Wayanad: “Yes, to brainwash children according to their own ideology. That is the way that they have structured it now. They have inserted lots of factual inaccuracies and lots of historical data has been changed. Basically, ideologically it is all leaning one way.”

The Wayanad MP added: “I don’t think that’s healthy for education or for children. They should have a large perspective. If there are different ideologies, those should all be talked about. The children should be educated and they should be aware. But not all in one direction only. That is why we are against it, and we oppose it. I would have thought that the State government in Kerala would have done the same. I’m surprised that it has not done it.”

Her remarks come in the wake of the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala signing an agreement with the Centre to implement the PM-SHRI schools scheme, and then announcing on Wednesday that a cabinet sub-committee would review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the State signed for the scheme. The State’s move came after pressure from the CPI, an ally of the CPI(M), which opposed the decision to sign the MoU on the grounds that the Left’s stand so far has been to oppose the NEP.

With Priyanka wading into the controversy over the scheme, Pradhan responded to her remarks in a post on X on Thursday, referring to them as a “glaring display of ignorance and political opportunism.”

He added that by making such “irresponsible and misleading statements, she not only distorts facts but disrespects the collective wisdom of India’s educators, academicians and citizens who shaped these historic reforms.”

The NEP was formulated under the guidance of Prof K Kasturirangan, a scientist of global eminence, and was the result of one of the most exhaustive and inclusive consultation processes ever undertaken, Pradhan wrote.

“The policy seeks to modernize the education system with an emphasis on inclusion, equity, quality learning, and global competitiveness, while remaining firmly anchored in India’s civilizational ethos. The PM SHRI schools are the living embodiment of this vision. These exemplary schools represent the future of Indian education featuring smart classrooms, Atal Tinkering and Innovation Labs, digital and experiential learning, libraries, eco-friendly campuses, vocational and skill hubs, and inclusive spaces for every child. They actively promote arts, culture, sports, and environmental stewardship, nurturing creativity, confidence, and character. In essence, PM SHRI schools blend modernity with moral strength, technology with tradition, and innovation with inclusion,” he wrote.

“To oppose such visionary initiatives is not to critique policy; it is to stand against the very idea of an India that no longer needs approval from old political dynasties to educate its children. Perhaps the discomfort stems from the fact that for decades, education was reduced to political rhetoric and neglect,” he added.

Till its recent decision to sign the MoU for PM-SHRI, Kerala had, so far, opposed the scheme on the grounds that the MoU asks for the NEP to be implemented in its entirety in the State. As a result, the Centre has withheld funds due to the State under the Samagra Shiksha programme.