LS Proceedings Disrupted As DMK Protests Over Pradhan's Remarks

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 the 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 at one point of 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 doing mischief with the life of the students. They are misleading the people and doing injustice to 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 have still 20 days left in the month of March," he said, indicating the time left for the Tamil Nadu government to sign the MoU on PM SHRI.