New Delhi, Dec 3 (NationPress) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Rajya Sabha today that CPI(M) MP John Brittas served as a crucial conduit between the Central government and the Kerala government concerning the PM-SHRI initiative.

The Minister praised Brittas for his involvement during the session in the Upper House.

Pradhan noted that Kerala had entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre regarding the PM-SHRI scheme with full agreement.

He mentioned that the state’s Education Minister had personally approached him to express Kerala’s readiness to participate, he added.

“I am unsure about the developments that followed,” Pradhan remarked, suggesting that internal conflicts within the Kerala government contributed to the project's stagnation.

He criticized the state government, asserting that it was Kerala that introduced confusion regarding the scheme.

Initially, Kerala had firmly stated its decision not to engage with the PM-SHRI education initiative.

This stance was a well-known policy of the LDF government.

However, in early October, the Kerala government notified the Centre of its intention to join the PM-SHRI programme.

This led to a backlash from the CPI, the second largest ally within the CM Vijayan administration, which protested vehemently, claiming the MoU was signed without consulting even the allied parties. This resulted in immediate objections from various factions, including the CPI. Consequently, Kerala informed the Centre of its withdrawal from the scheme.

The state also issued a formal request to the Centre to cease all further actions regarding PM-SHRI.

This withdrawal letter was sent after the Chief Minister clarified the situation during a cabinet meeting.

Reports previously indicated that the state Education Department had entered into the agreement without any prior discussions or approvals from the Left Front, the CPI(M), or the cabinet.

This triggered disagreements between the CPI and CPI(M). Following this, State Education Minister V. Sivankutty claimed that the department had signed the agreement solely to secure the central financial aid critical for Kerala’s education sector while affirming that the state would not implement the National Education Policy (NEP).

Responding to Pradhan’s remarks in the House, Brittas argued that it was inappropriate to misrepresent the Union Minister's statement, as such matters are entirely within the purview of the state government, of which he is not a part.

“It is indeed correct that he had accompanied Sivankutty on some occasions for the state's requirements, but that is where the involvement ends. Pradhan’s comments should not be distorted,” Brittas stated.