New Delhi: Lok Sabha proceedings were on Monday adjourned for about 30 minutes after DMK members staged protests over Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s remarks that Tamil Nadu government was “dishonest” and “ruining” the future of the students of the state by taking a complete ‘U-Turn’ on the issue of implementing the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme.
Replying to a question on the PM SHRI scheme, Pradhan said the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has changed its stand on implementing the centrally-sponsored scheme, which envisaged strengthening the schools managed by central, state or local bodies.
The state concerned has to sign an MoU with the central government that it would implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and in return, the central government provides the fund.
“The Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to sign the MoU. But now they have changed their stand. Many non-BJP-ruled states, including Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, have signed the agreement,” he said.
Pradhan said: “They are dishonest, and they are ruining the future of the students of Tamil Nadu. They are doing politics”.
The minister said that at one point in time, the government of Tamil Nadu had agreed to PM SHRI scheme, and several (DMK) MPs who came to see him conveyed this to him.
“But when they went back, they made a U-Turn. They are making mischief with the lives of the students. They are misleading the people and doing injustice to the students of Tamil Nadu. They are undemocratic, uncivilised,” he alleged.
Pradhan said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin had also agreed initially “but suddenly some super CM appeared and they took a U-Turn. They just want to do politics”.
“Today is March 10. We still have 20 days left in March,” he said, indicating the time left for the Tamil Nadu government to sign the MoU on PM SHRI.
Taking strong exception to the minister’s remarks, the DMK members registered strong protests by raising slogans against the central government.
Speaker Om Birla asked the agitating members to return to their seats and allow the House to function normally.
Birla said he has allowed the opposition members to pose questions, and subsequently, the minister has replied. “But now you are doing this (protests). This is not good. You are setting the wrong precedence. Don’t violate the Parliamentary procedures,” he said.
However, the DMK members ignored his pleas and continued their protests.
After some time, Birla adjourned the House till 12 noon.
Last month, Stalin had said he was firm on his stance of not implementing the NEP in Tamil Nadu even if the Centre offered to provide Rs 10,000 crore to the state.
The chief minister said the opposition to the NEP is not merely over the “imposition of Hindi”, but there are several other factors that would have serious consequences on the future of students and the social justice system.
The total cost of the PM SHRI scheme will be Rs 27,360 crore spread over a period of five years, which includes a central share of Rs 18,128 crore.
A total of 12,079 schools have been selected from 32 states and UTs, of which 1329 schools are primary, 3,340 schools are elementary, 2,921 schools are secondary, and 4,489 schools are senior secondary.
PTI
