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Alappuzha: Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) General Secretary Vellappally Natesan has expressed full support for the government's decision to introduce Zumba dance in schools across Kerala. Natesan's support comes at a time when various Muslim organisations voiced their dissent against the government's move. Nateshan said that their criticism is based on a misinterpretation of the initiative. He added that it would not be wrong if someone interprets this as an attempt to establish a theocratic state. Criticising what he described as efforts by certain groups with money and muscle power to assert dominance, Natesan said such behaviour is causing distress and resentment among other religious communities. He added that the government does not act entirely in accordance with the beliefs and leadership of any particular religious group. "Zumba is done fully clothed -- what exactly is the issue?" he asked, questioning the tendency to oppose reforms for the sake of it. Natesan also pointed out that some had even opposed minor changes in school timings. "If an extra 30 minutes helps children learn more, why object?" he said. Calling for communal harmony, Natesan urged those trying to stir religious hatred to step back and demanded that the government stand firm and implement its decision without yielding to pressure. Earlier, General Education Minister V Sivankutty also firmly defended the government's decision to introduce Zumba in schools. Dismissing criticism from Muslim organisations as "majoritarian communal tendencies," Sivankutty reaffirmed that Zumba would continue as a part of physical activity programmes in state-run schools. "When several states protested against the hijab, we took a progressive stand. But now, some organisations are promoting conservative views under the garb of cultural protection," Sivankutty remarked, criticising attempts to communalise the issue.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 27 (PTI) Zumba dance, a high-energy fitness programme introduced in schools in Kerala by the General Education Department as part of its anti-drug campaign, is facing opposition from certain Muslim groups who argue that it goes against moral values. The programme was introduced in schools following a directive from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who stated that the dance -- which combines dance and aerobic movements performed to lively music -- would help reduce stress among schoolchildren and, in turn, counter the menace of drug abuse among young people. From this ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday firmly defended the government's decision to introduce Zumba in schools, amid mounting opposition from several Muslim organisations. Calling the backlash an expression of "majoritarian communal tendencies," Sivankutty reaffirmed that Zumba would continue as a part of physical activity programmes in state-run schools. "When several states protested against the hijab, we took a progressive stand. But now, some organisations are promoting conservative views under the garb of cultural protection," Sivankutty remarked ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, June 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) A day after a section of Muslim clerics raised objections to the Kerala government's decision to introduce Zumba -- a dance-based fitness programme -- in schools, the youth wings of both the CPI(M) and the Congress came out in strong support of the initiative, dismissing the controversy as unwarranted. State Education Minister V. Sivankutty also stood firmly behind the move. The fitness programme was rolled out earlier this month with the start of the new academic year. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accompanied by family members, attended a la ...Read More >
The Kerala High Court on Friday asked the state government to clarify its stand on a plea filed by a church-run school that is challenging an Education Department order allowing a Muslim girl student to wear a headscarf, or hijab, in class. Justice VG Arun directed the government counsel to come prepared with instructions regarding the claims made in the petition. The matter is now posted for further hearing on October 24. The case involves St Rita's Public School, a CBSE-affiliated minority in ...Read More >
LUCKNOW: In response to the Hijab controversy created by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Samajwadi Party national spokesperson and daughter of noted poet late Munawwar Rana, Sumaiyya Rana, submitted a written complaint at Lucknow's Kaiserbagh police station against CM and UP fisheries minister Sanjay Nishad, seeking legal action over their alleged objectionable conduct and remarks. In her complaint, Sumaiyya Rana cited social media visuals showing Bihar CM Nitish Kumar trying to remove a woman's hijab while giving her appointment letter stating that the incident led to widespread resentment among Musl ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) Amid the row over RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale's remarks on the Constitution's Preamble, CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar on Sunday wrote to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, questioning if the organisation "truly accept the Indian Constitution". Hosabale, the general secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideologue mentor of the ruling BJP, on Thursday called for a review of the words "secular" and "socialist" inserted into the Preamble by way of the 42nd Amendment. He said the words were added during the Emergency and were not part of the original text drafted by B ...Read More >
T'puram/Kozhikode: Education minister V Sivankutty said no one should dictate terms on what should be done in public schools. If anyone has any issues, they should discuss them with the govt. He stated that he would not accept any threat or warning from anyone regarding the Zumba row."There is an elected govt to decide on academic and non-academic matters in govt schools," Sivankutty told reporters in the capital.The govt is ready to have a discussion on the steps taken, but on issues commonly kn ...Read More >
Mumbai, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Veteran artistes Javed Akhtar and Lucky Ali have come at loggerheads. Lucky Ali took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a post recently taking a dig at the legendary screenwriter. The issue arose after a recently resurfaced clip of Javed Akhtar shows him asking the Hindu community of the country to not be hardliners like the Muslim community. Javed is known to be a non-believer, and constantly calls out the traditional practises, irrespective of faith, which harm the society. He bats for critical thinking, and adopting practices that make society better, an ...Read More >
Srinagar, Dec 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday drew parallels between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's recent act of touching a Muslim woman's hijab and a past election-related controversy in Jammu and Kashmir involving Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, terming both incidents a manifestation of a "regressive mindset". Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said such episodes were not isolated and recalled an incident from an earlier election when, he alleged, a woman voter's burqa was removed inside a polling station. "We have witnessed this earlier as ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Mumbai, July 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Actor Harshvardhan Rane, who was last seen in 'The Miranda Brothers', is heaping praise on the recently released film 'Saiyaara', and its team. On Saturday, the actor took to the Stories section of his Instagram, and penned a special note for the film and its makers after it witnessed a stellar opening day. He wrote, "Another melodious example of a love story shattering all myths and formulas of the industry. Honest heart wrenching love story wins again in 2025! #Saiyaara". 'Saiyaara', which stars Aneet Padda, and marks the debut of Ahaan Panday, is helmed b ...Read More >
Kochi (AsiaNews) - The controversy began after St. Rita's Public School in Palluruthy, run by the Latin Catholic Church, refused to allow a student to wear the hijab. In the days that followed, referring to Muslim organisations, an editorial in the Catholic daily Deepika said: 'Those who asked for prayer rooms in Christian schools have now come forward to claim the right to wear the hijab.' This has led to harsh criticism, a sign of the interreligious tension that the affair is causing in Kerala. The student at the centre of the hijab controversy in Kerala has finally decided to leave school. ...Read More >
Mufti called the incident shocking and deeply disturbing. Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi came down heavily on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Tuesday over the controversial hijab incident. Mehbooba Mufti criticised Nitish Kumar sharply over a controversial incident in which he was seen pulling down the hijab of a young Muslim woman. Mufti called the incident shock ...Read More >
Bengaluru, June 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Karnataka BJP on Saturday welcomed the Central Government's decision to hand over the sensational murder case of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order in this regard on Saturday. The Karnataka BJP unit had vehemently demanded an NIA probe, alleging that the Congress-led government in Karnataka was hushing up the case. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka and State President B.Y. Vijayendra had questioned why the investigation officers had not yet bothered to investigate the rol ...Read More >
Kozhikode (Kerala): The Kerala government on Saturday stood firm in its decision to introduce Zumba dance in state schools as part of its anti-drug campaign, saying the opposition to it is "more venomous than narcotic substance". Explaining the government's stance over the matter here, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said a section of people are deliberately creating issues over the matter and nothing harmful for children is being implemented. Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty's Statement "The government is ready to hold talks with those who have misunderstandings in th ...Read More >
Bengaluru: A physics lecturer from a private college in Dakshina Kannada and two of his friends have been arrested by Bengaluru police for allegedly blackmailing and raping a student.When the mental torture by the trio became intolerable, the girl narrated to her parents how she was being exploited. Subsequently, she went to Marathahalli police station along with her parents on July 5 and lodged a complaint seeking action against the perpetrators. Acting swiftly, the cops arrested the trio the following day. The accused are Narendra, a physics lecturer, Sandeep, a biology lecturer -- both work ...Read More >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 3 (ANI): In a major crackdown on narcotics smuggling, officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, have seized 14.738 kgs of suspected NDPS hydroponic weed (marijuana) valued at approximately Rs 14.73 crore during operations on Sunday. The seizures were made across Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), resulting in the arrest of one passenger, as stated in the press release. The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Based on specific intel, ...Read More >
Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The city celebrated Tribal Pride Day with devotion and enthusiasm on Saturday, marking the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda. Tribal culture, traditions and his contribution to nation-building were remembered with reverence. Radheshyam Jamle, convener of Tribal Development Forum, Indore Metropolitan Area, said that brothers and sisters from tribal community assembled at two different points in the metropolis and marched to Tantya Bhil Square. Participants reached the statue of Tantya Mama Bhil and performed aarti to Bharat Mata, Birsa Munda and Tantya Mama, offe ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar invited criticism from the opposition on Tuesday after he pulled off a woman doctor's hijab at a graduation ceremony. Opening himself up to more questions about his mental health a month after taking oath as the Bihar chief minister for the 10th time, Kumar was seen in a widely shared video clip as pulling a hijab down from the woman's face during a government event in Patna. The video clip shows the 74-year-old politician handing a certificate to an AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) doctor during the event on Mon ...Read More >
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday urged voters in Assam to remove the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state, terming it the country's most corrupt, and attacked chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for enriching himself instead of working for the people. He referred to a mood change in the state and said it reflected in his interactions with voters. Kharge cited feedback from the ground and added that it indicates that Congress will come to power and win 72-73 of the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) Amid the row over RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale's remarks on the Constitution's Preamble, CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar on Sunday wrote to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, questioning if the organisation "truly accept the Indian Constitution". Hosabale, the general secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideologue mentor of the ruling BJP, on Thursday called for a review of the words "secular" and "socialist" inserted into the Preamble by way of the 42nd Amendment. Also Read | Hindi Row: Maharashtra Govt Forms Committee To Submit Report on Trilingual Policy Formula ...Read More >
Haridwar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sakshi Maharaj on Sunday demanded that hotel, dhaba and eatery owners on the Kanwar Yatra routes should display their names and identities on boards outside their business establishments. The owners, who hide their identities under fake names, on the Kanwar Yatra routes should not be spared, he told reporters here. "Tampering with faith of the Hindu devotees during the Kanwar Yatra will not be tolerated," said the Unnao MP. The food shops on the Kanwar Yatra routes should have a board outside with the names of their owners clearly written on them, h ...Read More >
KOCHI: A delegation of Muslim organisation leaders led by Kerala Mahallu Coordination Committee chief coordinator T A Mujeeb Rehman met the family of the student who was denied permission to wear hijab at school and the management of St Rita's Public School in Palluruthy on Saturday in an effort to solve the issue amicably. According to Mujeeb Rehman, the parent was firm on his decision to shift the school as he felt that continuing in the same school will only fan communal divide. "We talked to the sisters at the St Rita's School also, but they expressed helplessness as it was the decision o ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 28 (ANI): Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday strongly defended the inclusion of Zumba dance in schools, stating that raising objections to such activities would inject poison that is more deadly than drugs into society. Responding to the criticism, Minister Sivankutty said, 'No one has asked children to wear minimal clothes. Children are wearing school uniforms and performing this.' 'Engaging in sports will help in developing mental and physical vitality, health and positive thinking in children. This will have a positive impact on th ...Read More >
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad triggered a fresh political storm with his remarks on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's recent act of pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman during a public event. Nishad, whose NISHAD Party is part of the BJP led NDA in Uttar Pradesh, questioned the criticism directed at Nitish Kumar and made comments that were widely described as insensitive. In an interview to a news outlet, he said that the chief minister's hands had only touched the woman's face and wondered what would have happened had his hands touched somewhere else. The remar ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 2 (ANI): Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Thursday called the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, "extremely dangerous" and said it is not in the interest of the country. He accused the government of introducing it without discussion or consultation and pursuing a hidden agenda. Speaking to ANI, Tiwari said, "The way this bill has been introduced, it is becoming clear that this bill is extremely dangerous. It is not in the interest of the country, and therefore the Congress party is opposing it... It seems the government has brought this bill without ...Read More >
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Bengaluru Crime: A woman's body, believed to be between 30 and 35 years old, was found stuffed inside a sack and dumped in a garbage truck in Bengaluru early Thursday. The identity of the woman is yet to be confirmed. Police said the sack was discovered by BBMP sanitation workers who immediately alerted the authorities. The body was found with her hands and neck tied, raising strong suspicion of murder. Officials stated that the body had been placed inside a gunny bag before being thrown into the garbage vehicle. Joint Commissioner of Police, C Vamsi Krishna, confirmed that the body has been ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 27 (PTI) Zumba dance, a high-energy fitness programme introduced in schools in Kerala by the General Education Department as part of its anti-drug campaign, is facing opposition from certain Muslim groups who argue that it goes against moral values. The programme was introduced in schools following a directive from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who stated that the dance -- which combines dance and aerobic movements performed to lively music -- would help reduce stress among schoolchildren and, in turn, counter the menace of drug abuse among young people. Also Read ...Read More >
Srinagar, Aug 3 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday expressed condolences on the untimely demise of daughter of Udhampur SSP Amod Nagpure Ashok. Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad also condoled the death, saying "there can be no greater pain for a parent than losing a child". In a message, LG Sinha said, "Shocked and heartbroken by the tragic news of the passing of the daughter of SSP Udhampur Shri Amod Nagpure Ashok. My deepest condolences to the grieving family. May the Almighty give them courage an ...Read More >