Overview
- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan paused implementation and formed a seven-member cabinet sub-committee to review the agreement, notifying the Union government of the freeze.
- Union Minister George Kurian said the state's letter has only “paper value” and indicated the Union Education Ministry will take the final call on implementation.
- General education secretary K. Vasuki had signed the MoU in New Delhi days earlier to access central funding for school upgrades and dues under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
- Reporting states the Centre has withheld over Rs 1,400 crore for Kerala’s general education department, increasing financial pressure on the government.
- Political reactions widened, with BJP leaders alleging the government yielded to religious groups, while the ABVP asked the Prime Minister to reject Kerala’s request to halt the scheme.