CPI, CPI(M) on the same page over PM SHRI, says Binoy Viswam

The CPI and the CPI(M) have the same position on the Centre’s PM SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) school scheme, CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam said on Monday (June 29), rejecting the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) allegation that the CPI(M) had signed up for it without informing its Left ally.

Addressing reporters here, Mr. Viswam said the CPI(M) had not gone ahead with the scheme and described the UDF’s claim that the CPI was unaware of the alleged agreement as “a blatant lie”. He also asserted that Kerala had not received any funds under the PM SHRI scheme.

The CPI leader’s comments come amid an ongoing war of words between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the UDF, with both sides taking potshots at each other and accusing the other of “surrendering to the Sangh Parivar agenda” by the reported move to go ahead with the scheme.

Mr. Viswam alleged that the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) could align themselves with the RSS agenda, but maintained that the CPI and CPI(M) would not do so.

Seeks PM’s intervention

Referring to senior journalist R. Rajagopal’s allegation that his passport renewal has been held up after his name was deleted from the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Mr. Viswam termed it a witch-hunt by the BJP-led Central government.

Mr. Viswam said the CPI has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention against the alleged injustice.

Mr. Viswam also accused the UDF of moving towards a pro-feudalist stance with its Budget proposals. He said the proposed Mission Samudra project would lead to the exploitation of coastal regions and plunder of mineral resources.