CPI(M) seeks to ease tensions with CPI over PM-SHRI MoU

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] The State Secretariat was apparently trying to ease tensions with the Communist Party of India (CPI), the second largest constituent of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF); The party had criticized the government for “secretly” signing the “anti-federal and reactionary” PM-SHRI scheme to provide an estimated 1,446 crore central grant for school education, apparently without consulting the ruling front or the cabinet.

The CPI(M) seemed willing to mollify the clearly angry CPI. CPI(M) External Affairs Minister MV Govidan told a press conference that the signing of the PM-SHRI MoU does not preclude further discussions on the issue in the LDF or the cabinet. “There is no dispute that LDF cannot resolve through consensus,” he added.

Mr. Govindan also signaled that the CPI could be confident that the LDF would reject the Centre’s linking the release of statutory federal grants for school education to the adoption of the RSS-inspired National Education Policy (NEP).

“The state needs the money without compromising on NEP. Kerala’s social and political environment is not conducive to accepting the Centre’s unlikely conditions for release of SSA and PM-SHRI funds. Sangh Parivar’s writ will not hold up in progressive Kerala,” he said.

Mr. Govindan said it was Congress’ legacy to set the political conditions for issuing lawful federal grants to the states. “The first five-year plan under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru unconditionally released funds owed by the Center to the US. Later, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi jettisoned the Nehru principle and the BJP took a cue from the Congress to force the States to accept conditions that politically advantaged the ruling tendency,” he said.

Mr. Govindan said the Congress had no moral right to complain about seeking PM-SHRI funds. “Congress governments in Rajasthan, Karnataka and Telangana have enrolled themselves in this scheme to protect the interests of their respective states,” he said.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of unilaterally giving in to the Centre’s “compelling demand” for Kerala to implement the NEP as a precondition for the release of much-needed mandatory federal grants for school education.

Mr. Satheesan dared to explain what compelled Mr. Vijayan to bow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pressure and leave the cabinet and the LDF in the dark. He had the courage to deny the “humiliation” to the CPI, the cabinet and the LDF.

UDF senses political opportunity

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), apparently sensing a political opportunity, invited the CPI to join the Opposition coalition. “If the CPI (CPI) chooses to break ranks with the CPI(M), the UDF will welcome it,” said UDF convenor Adoor Prakash.