Covid-19: PMK leader urges Tamil Nadu govt not to yield to Centre’s pressure on reopening schools

CHENNAI: PMK leader S Ramadoss on Monday criticised the Centre for “pressurising” state governments to reopen schools. He urged the state government not to yield to the pressure.
The PMK leader's comment was seen as a reaction to the Centre asking the state governments to file their response by July 20 on reopening of schools.
The state governments have been questioned by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) on when they would be comfortable to reopen schools. The states were also advised to get the feedback of parents in this regard.
He said India had reported the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases in the globe. On Sunday alone, the country recorded 40,243 fresh cases. “In such circumstances, it's a blunder to even think about reopening the schools. Hence, the state government should not yield to the pressure of the Centre.”
He said the Centre should not interfere in state matters as it would be an act of “snatching away state autonomy”.
“Each state should be free to make its own decision on when to reopen the schools based on the situation prevailing in their state,” he added.
Reopening of schools, without containing the spread of the virus, would aggravate the situation and lead to super-spreaders of the virus, he cautioned.