He had taught Left intellectuals that Modi’s not-so-new National Education Policy (NEP) was part of a saffronisation agenda. He even made Riyas write a note on the 15 dangers of NEP. The minister who once swore never to sign anything aligned with the RSS agenda now asks what is wrong with the NEP,” the Suprabhatam editorial stated.

The paper also questioned CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam’s stand, saying: “What will Binoy Viswam do now? Although he succeeded Kanam Rajendran, who once shook the first Pinarayi government, Binoy may not follow that path. There is concern that he may not even be able to speak out.”

Meanwhile, a discussion organised by the Wisdom Youth State Committee in Areekode warned against efforts to silence Muslim voices by branding them communal.

“Labelling Muslim identity and customs as communal or Talibanist is part of an attempt to establish saffron politics in Kerala. Society must strongly resist moves to saffronise education through the PM SHRI scheme,” it noted.