CPI demands UDF government to withdraw from PM SHRI scheme

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has intensified its protest against the PM SHRI scheme, asking the United Democratic Front (UDF) government to withdraw from the project and alleging that it is part of a larger ideological agenda.

Inaugurating a protest organised by the CPI Thrissur Mandalam committee here on Wednesday, district secretary K.G. Sivanandan launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, accusing him of lacking a consistent political stand.

“He claims to be a man of firm positions, but has proved himself to be a prince of falsehoods,” Mr. Sivanandan said. He alleged that the Chief Minister had made “false promises” to come to power and had since backtracked on earlier assurances.

The CPI leader further accused the government of attempting to implement the PM SHRI scheme in haste, claiming it would pave the way for the “strategic imposition of the RSS agenda” in Kerala’s education sector. He said the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had rejected the scheme after recognising its implications.

Mr. Sivanandan also criticised what he termed the “double standards” of the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on the issue, alleging that leaders who had earlier opposed the scheme were now supporting its implementation.

Warning of intensified agitation, he said the CPI would continue its protest until the government withdraws from the scheme.

CPI Mandalam assistant secretary T. Gopidas presided over the meeting, while former MLA P. Balachandran delivered the keynote address.