Date:05/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/05/stories/2007010510130400.htm

Kerala

Government colluding with education lobby: BJP

Special Correspondent

Calls for Central legislation

`Provisions to aid religious groups incorporated in Bill'

Says BJP had said the Bill would not stand legal scrutiny

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president P.K. Krishnadas said here on Thursday that the High Court order annulling several of the provisions of the Self Financing Colleges or Institutions Act was a result of collusion between the Government and the minority educational lobby in the State.

The State president said certain provisions were added to the Bill, during its consideration in the Assembly, at the last minute to aid religious groups running educational institutions. On the one hand, Education Minister M.A. Baby was trying to win the applause from some, while on the other, he was catering to the interests of `traders' of education. The BJP had said then itself that the Bill would not stand legal scrutiny. Mr. Krishnadas said that only a Central legislation, included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, could solve the problems and bring about social control in the education sector. The Government should make sincere efforts for that.