Min uses PM Shri docs from LDF govt’s time to slam oppn

T’puram: A discussion on PM Shri scheme, which the opposition raised as an adjournment motion, turned into a political duel after general education minister N Samsudheen furnished documents related to the scheme during the previous LDF govt’s tenure.In reply to the motion moved by CPI MLA P Prasad, he placed the correspondence between LDF govt and Centre on the scheme before the House. He said the then principal secretary (general education) had informed the Centre that Kerala was willing to implement the scheme and sign an agreement.He also referred to the recommendations of a high-level committee constituted for the implementation of the scheme, which reportedly supported signing an MoU with the Centre.

He said the MoU contained provisions that the state cannot unilaterally withdraw from the agreement and that any decision on withdrawal or non-implementation rested with the Centre. This led to sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches.

Ruling front members used the documents to counter opposition’s criticism of the govt’s position on PM Shri.During discussion, Prasad argued that constitutional provisions could be invoked to facilitate the state’s withdrawal. Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that UDF govt ‘shamefully surrendered’ before Centre over the issue.

He recalled that UDF leaders had taken a strong stand against the scheme and questioned their changed views. “Where has that stand gone? Within a month, all previous positions changed. They now appear to be acting as spokespersons of the scheme,” he alleged.Vijayan claimed that though the previous LDF govt had signed an MoU, it had frozen further action on it in 20 days. He argued that the scheme had not been implemented in Kerala though eight months had elapsed since the MoU.Referring to Centre’s letter that urged the state to implement the scheme, he claimed that this letter would not have come if the project was already implemented. He claimed that Centre had informed the Supreme Court that PM Shri had not been implemented in Kerala.Opposition members walked out after the adjournment motion was disallowed.SFI activists injuredAround 20 SFI activists were injured on Wednesday after police and protesters clashed during a Secretariat march against the fee hike in cooperative sector educational institutions and the liquor policy mentioned in the budget. Protesters alleged that police resorted to lathicharge, hitting students on their head and neck with batons and shields. Meanwhile, police alleged that some protesters attacked personnel using blades.

Police also recovered blades from the protest site and said it would file a case after examining CCTV visuals to identify those involved.