V Sivankutty Rejects V D Satheesan's PM SHRI Claims, Says LDF Took No Steps to Implement Scheme

Thiruvananthapuram: Former General Education Minister V Sivankutty has categorically stated that the previous LDF government took no steps whatsoever in connection with adopting the PM SHRI scheme and completed none of the procedural requirements under it. He called the Chief Minister V D Satheesan's press conference claim that funds were received under PM SHRI factually false.

No list of schools was submitted to the Centre, and not a single rupee was received by the previous government in the name of PM SHRI, Sivankutty said. He also directly contradicted the Chief Minister's denial, asserting that a letter was indeed sent to the Centre stating that the state government would not proceed with the scheme. The Chief Minister's claim that no such letter was sent is a lie, he said.

Sivankutty characterised the sub-committee formed by the current government on PM SHRI as a device to deceive the public, and described the entire exercise as part of the UDF government's deal with the Central government.

The former minister also levelled broader charges against the UDF, accusing it of adopting an anti-worker stance within just one month in office — attempting to remove contract employees and carrying out large-scale appointments based on nepotism. He further alleged that all effective power is being concentrated in the hands of the Chief Minister alone. He said CITU has decided to launch a major agitation against the government's anti-labour policies.