Pinarayi hits out at UDF over PM SHRI implementation, questions Congress’s core stance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the ruling UDF government over its decision to implement the Union Government’s PM SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) scheme, accusing the coalition of a political volte-face.

Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), while in the opposition, had fiercely resisted the initiative and attempted to manufacture public outrage. He noted the irony that the same leaders who previously labelled administrative talks between the former LDF government and the Centre as a "BJP-CPM deal" are now actively executing the central program upon assuming power.

The ruling UDF has defended its trajectory by arguing that the state is legally bound to the program, as the previous LDF administration had already executed the foundational Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre. Rejecting this defence, the Opposition Leader accused the government of hiding behind bureaucratic technicalities to mislead the public. He emphasised that the mere existence of a signed MoU does not obligate an administration to enforce a policy it fundamentally claimed to oppose, calling the government's current position a complete abandonment of its earlier principles.

The Opposition Leader further targeted the internal contradictions within Congress party, pointing out that Congress-led administrations across the country have integrated seamlessly into the framework.

"Every Congress-ruled state government in India is currently implementing the PM SHRI scheme without a single note of dissent," Pinarayi stated. "They have signed the agreements and are fully prepared to adopt the National Education Policy in its entirety. The critical question that needs answering here is: what exactly is the authentic stance of the Congress party on this national policy?"