Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai has countered Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s claims that the central government is treating the state unfairly by diverting its education funds to other states under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and PM Shri schemes. Annamalai questioned the DMK government’s stance, arguing that the state had not properly implemented these schemes while still demanding funds for them. He asked, “How do you expect the Centre to pay the State for a programme that has not been implemented?”
In a statement, Annamalai pointed out that the DMK government had assured in March last year that it would roll out all aspects of Samagra Shiksha, including PM Shri, from the start of the academic year. He directly questioned Stalin, asking whether the government had fulfilled this commitment.
Taking to his official social media account, Annamalai criticized the ruling DMK, claiming that Tamil Nadu has fallen behind in numeracy and basic language proficiency. He accused Stalin and his administration of degrading the quality of education by politicizing the sector, denying students in Tamil Nadu equal opportunities for world-class learning.
Furthermore, he dismissed the DMK’s allegation that the Centre had diverted Tamil Nadu’s education funds, stating that 35 out of 36 states and union territories have yet to receive their SSA allocations for 2024-25. He accused the DMK of spreading falsehoods instead of taking responsibility for its failure to implement the schemes effectively.
Annamalai via his official X account stated, “TN has lost its sheen and is at the bottom of the table in numeracy and basic language proficiency (Tamil). Thiru @mkstalin and his coterie should be ashamed of bringing down the quality of education, politicising Education, and depriving the Children of Tamil Nadu of equal opportunities and world-class education. The TN govt committed in March last year that it will implement all aspects of Samagra Shiksha, including PM Shri, from the beginning of this academic year. Did you or did you not make this commitment, Thiru @mkstalin? How do you expect the Centre to pay the State for a programme that is not implemented? As per the recent fund releases to states under SSA, 35 of 36 States/UTs are yet to receive the allocated amount for the year 2024-25. Do you have no shame in spreading a lie that the funds allocated to TN are diverted to other states? Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has issued a rebuttal to Chief Minister MK Stalin over the DMK’s usual rehetoric blamming the central government has seeing the state with a step motherly attitude by diverting the states education fund to other states for samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and PM Shri schemes, without implementing the schemes in thestatw but asking funds for it, in this backdrop Annamalai questioned whether these schees were implemented as promised slammed the politics of the DMK ted to release funds for a programme that has not been implemented by the State government. “How do you expect the Centre to pay the State for a programme that is not implemented?”
TN has lost its sheen and is at the bottom of the table in numeracy and basic language proficiency (Tamil). Thiru @mkstalin and his coterie should be ashamed of bringing down the quality of education, politicising Education, and depriving the Children of Tamil Nadu of equal… https://t.co/Nymrnof7ZC
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 9, 2025
This rebuttal from Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K. Annamalai comes in response to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s accusations against the central government. Stalin had claimed that the BJP-led Union government was displaying blatant bias against Tamil Nadu, stating, “The Union BJP Government’s unjust attitude against Tamil Nadu knows no bounds! For rejecting the imposition of #NEP2020 and the three-language policy, they resorted to open blackmail, snatching away ₹2,152 crore meant for Tamil Nadu’s students and now they have handed it over to other states. This is nothing short of coercion, punishing our students for standing up for their rights. No government in India’s history has been so ruthless to strangle access to education for political revenge against a State. The BJP has once again proven itself to be the face of injustice and hatred towards Tamil Nadu and its people!”
The Union BJP Government’s unjust attitude against Tamil Nadu knows no bounds!
For rejecting the imposition of #NEP2020 and the three-language policy, they resorted to open blackmail, snatching away ₹2,152 crore meant for Tamil Nadu’s students and now they have handed it over… https://t.co/WwUDPLm3Aa
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 9, 2025
Annamalai, in his rebuttal, refuted these claims, accusing the DMK of spreading misinformation and failing to implement the central education schemes while blaming the Centre for fund allocation issues.
Earlier, on 15 March 2024, Shiv Das Meena, the Chief Secretary of the School Education Department, had written to the Ministry of Education confirming that Tamil Nadu would soon implement the central education schemes and requested the release of funds. However, while other states and union territories went ahead with the implementation, the Tamil Nadu government, under the DMK, failed to do so. As a result, the central government was not obligated to release funds for the schemes.
In his letter, Shiv Das Meena stated that Tamil Nadu has always been committed to enhancing the quality of education by introducing various impactful initiatives. Referring to a prior communication from the Ministry dated 23 February 2024, he affirmed the state’s willingness to sign the MoU for establishing PM SHRI schools. He mentioned that a State Level Committee, led by the School Education Secretary, had been formed to oversee the process, and based on its recommendations, Tamil Nadu would sign the MoU before the start of the 2024-25 academic year. He also requested the release of the third and fourth installments of funds for the financial year 2023-24.
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