
‘Kanwar yatra symbol of unity, attacks won't be tolerated': VHP warns ahead of pilgrimage
NEW DELHI: Warning against attacks on Kanwariyas,
(VHP) said that the upcoming Kanwar Yatra is a symbol of 'national unity and harmony' on Saturday. VHP also said that Bharat is progressing towards a new renaissance rooted in Hindutva, and called for a decisive end to religious conversions and reiterated its demand for liberation of temples from government control.
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Surendra Jain, central joint general secretary, VHP said that due to the rising wave of Hindutva, the whole country is moving towards renaissance. Jain said, 'The rising wave of Hindutva has infused the nation with a new energy. The world today looks at Bharat as a ray of hope.'
Jain asserted that while illegal conversions continue despite laws in several states, Hindu society 'will no longer tolerate deceitful or forcible conversion attempts by Church and jihadi elements.'
He added, 'If they do not stop incidents like love jihad, both society and the government know how to deal with them.'
The VHP leader also announced the intensification of a national campaign to free Hindu temples from government control, citing cases such as alleged misuse of funds at Tirupati and awarding of temple offering contracts in Bengal to halal traders. 'Secular governments have repeatedly failed to respect Hindu sentiments.
Our temple liberation campaign, launched in Vijayawada on January 5, is aimed at restoring Hindu ownership of our places of worship,' he said.
On the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, warning against attacks on Kanwariyas, Jain said: 'Hindu society will no longer tolerate spit-jihad or urine-jihad. Muslim organisations must rein in such elements.'
He urged all stakeholders to strictly adhere to government guidelines to avoid communal tensions.

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Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Gujarat HC issues contempt notice to Junagadh Municipal Corporation officers
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Despite opposition, Kerala govt to go ahead with Zumba: Minister
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India Gazette
3 hours ago
- India Gazette
"Criticism is absolutely untrue": CPI(M)'s MA Baby backs Zumba in Kerala schools
Kozhikode (Kerala) [India], June 28 (ANI): CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby said on Saturday backed the Kerala Government's plan to introduce Zumba in schools and said the backlash is 'absolutely untrue' 'This dance form is practised in over 180 countries... It is important for a sound mind and a sound body... The criticism is absolutely untrue. I have seen some videos of participants, they are fully dressed... The State Education Minister has already stated the government would like to proceed with it... Religious orthodoxy should not be brought into the education field...' 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 their studies and personality development. Therefore, it is essential to encourage such healthy activities,' the minister stated. He added that Zumba and other physical activities played a crucial role in developing children's mental and physical health, and encouraged positive thinking and personality development. The Minister also referred to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, saying, 'According to RTE, children must participate in the learning processes prescribed by the government. Parents have no choice in the matter,' he clarified. On the role of educators, he stressed that teachers were bound by the directives of the education department. 'According to the conduct rules, the teacher is obliged to do what the department prescribes,' Sivankutty said. He further warned that communalising such issues would disrupt Kerala's long-standing tradition of social harmony. 'In a society like Kerala, where people live together in harmony, such stances will only encourage the majority communalism,' he added. His remarks came after the state Education Department recently planned to teach Zumba in all schools as part of efforts to drive students away from drug abuse and violence, and to improve their physical and mental fitness. Last year, ahead of the start of the current academic year, the Education Department provided training to teachers as part of their annual refresher programmes. Earlier in the day, Muslim groups in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram raised strong objections after the state education department introduced Zumba dance in schools, stating that they couldn't accept girls and boys intermingling, dancing together, or wearing minimal clothing. The move, as part of its anti-drug campaign, aimed at helping students manage stress through physical activity, drew criticism for allegedly promoting indecent intermingling of boys and girls. The backlash began after TK Ashraf, a teacher and General Secretary of the Wisdom Islamic Organisation, posted on Facebook that he and his son would not participate in the programme. 'Cannot accept this, and my son and I will not participate in this,' Ashraf wrote in a brief but direct statement opposing the initiative. Soon after, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama leader Nassar Faizy Koodathai also posted, calling the Zumba sessions inappropriate and a violation of students' rights. (ANI)