New Delhi: DMK MP Kanimozhi on Monday gave a privilege notice in the Lok Sabha against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, seeking action against him for his remarks on the National Education Policy issue, which she described as a “breach of parliamentary privilege”.
As per the notice, “The statement by the honourable Union Minister amounts to, casting reflections and aspersions on members of parliament. The Minister’s remarks malign my dignity and integrity as well that of DMK MPs and our allies, thereby violating the parliamentary privileges and rights”.
The notice was given after Pradhan while replying to a question on the PM SHRI scheme in the Lok Sabha, accused the Tamil Nadu government of taking a U-turn on the scheme during a discussion on National Education Policy.
Pradhan said the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government had changed its stand on implementing the centrally sponsored scheme which envisaged strengthening the schools managed by central, state or local bodies.
He further said, “They are dishonest and they are ruining the future of the students of Tamil Nadu. They are doing politics.”
The Union Minister claimed that Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin had also agreed initially “but suddenly some super CM appeared and they made a U-Turn. Today is March 10. We have still 20 days left in March,” he said, indicating the time left for the Tamil Nadu government to sign the MoU on PM SHRI.
The minister’s remarks sparked an intense row between the Centre and the DMK members.
Slamming the minister, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, “I am very pained and hurt that the minister has called the members of Parliament and the people of Tamil Nadu uncivilised”.
“In our meeting, we had clearly said that we have issues with the NEP and we cannot accept it in full. The three-language policy is not acceptable to the people of Tamil Nadu. The CM of Tamil Nadu has written to the Prime Minister and the Education Minister saying that we have issues with the NEP and it cannot be accepted in toto” she said.
