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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Religious leader hits out at Speaker for remarks on changing school timings
Kozhikode , Prominent Sunni leader Nasar Faizy Koodathai on Wednesday slammed Kerala Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer for his remarks, urging religious leaders to reconsider their stand on changing school timings. Religious leader hits out at Speaker for remarks on changing school timings Speaking at a programme in Kannur on Tuesday, Shamseer had underscored the need to adapt to changing times while mentioning school timings and wanted the religious leaders and scholars to reconsider their adamant stand in the matter. Talking to a TV channel, Koodathai, a prominent leader of the Samastha Kerala Jam'eyyat ul-Ulama, raised suspicion about whether his statements were deliberate and part of an agenda by the Left government to bring back the issue, which had already died down, to the limelight again. Samastha Kerala Jam'eyyat ul-Ulama is an influential Muslim body of Sunni scholars which has the largest support base among Kerala Muslims. Samastha had raised strong objections when the government extended the timing of the state-run schools in the state this academic year by 30 minutes as per a court decision. Koodathai said they have not abandoned their agitation against the government decision in this regard. They do not want to go on a public stir as the Samastha supreme leadership is the final authority to take a decision. He alleged that their agitations opposing the school timing change were deliberately given a communal colour and accused the government of having a role in this. He said the Samastha withdrew from public agitation to avoid any communal division being created in society over this. "But the Speaker has opened the topic again. It was a move with ulterior motives," Koodathai alleged. He suspected that the government's agenda was behind the Speaker's remarks. The leader further said that they are against the stand taken by General Education Minister V Sivankutty in the school time change issue, but they opted not to continue their protest to avoid communal division in society. Sivankutty reiterated recently that school timings cannot be changed to accommodate a particular community as the government has to consider the interests of lakhs of students. The minister had also said that the decision to extend school timings by 30 minutes was taken based on the directions of the Kerala High Court, and therefore, anyone aggrieved by the same can seek legal remedies. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Saudi Gazette
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Indian state defends Zumba lessons for students amid protests
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — The southern Indian state of Kerala has defended its decision to introduce Zumba classes in public schools, after the move sparked protests from religious groups earlier this week. Some 14,000 state-run schools in Kerala have been asked to organise daily Zumba sessions as part of an anti-drug campaign launched by the government last month. The decision has been bitterly opposed by some Hindu and Muslim organizations in the state, who say the dance is a form of "cultural invasion". They are urging parents and teachers to boycott the program, saying it goes against their religious beliefs and moral values. While the protests have died down, the groups are continuing to oppose the policy. The Kerala government however has said it will not roll back the program, adding that "religion should not be mixed with education". "Those who are protesting are proving themselves to be more dangerous than any drug problem," V Sivankutty, the state's education minister, told the added that though schools have been asked to introduce Zumba into the curriculum, classes would still be optional for the students."It is not like we are forcing anyone - you can always opt out if you want," he first began when the Kerala government introduced a slew of measures to counter the growing use of drugs among school students last include enhanced surveillance around campuses, new awareness campaigns and rehabilitation programs for students, along with Zumba the guidelines, all state-run schools have been asked to hire trained Zumba instructors to hold daily sessions for the curriculum and its schedule, they said, should be designed keeping in mind the convenience of both students and move was deeply opposed by the Samstha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulema, an influential organisation of Muslim clerics in the state, which manages hundreds of religious group's spokesperson Nasar Faizy Koodathai told the BBC that boys and girls dancing together, in what he described as "vulgar" attire, was unacceptable."Zumba contradicts Indian moral values as it requires students to wear tight clothing and dance closely together. This should not be accepted," he Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, a right-wing organisation which describes itself as a group of "Hindu intellectuals", echoed this a statement earlier this week, the organisation's Director, R Sanjayan, called Zumba a "foreign" import and said that imposing it on students in the name of combating drug use was "malicious"."There are ulterior motives behind the promotion of foreign cultural exports like Zumba by the government, which has made no effort to enrich or protect our traditions," he said, adding that parents and students should oppose the rule because it goes "against the uniqueness of the country".The government has rejected all the allegations."The idea is to encourage students to start a new fitness journey for a healthier lifestyle - and nothing else ," said the guidelines make it clear that students will have to wear their school uniforms during the sessions, leaving no scope for "inappropriate dressing", he said."In schools, light exercise is always encouraged and children always wear uniforms for these sessions."The government's sole aim, he added, is to encourage healthy habits in children."Engaging in sports promotes mental and physical vitality, health, and positive thinking in children, which can enhance their academic performance and personal development." — BBC
