Opposition to Zumba dance unacceptable, says Kerala Speaker
The opposition to Zumba dance will not be accepted by children or the general public, Speaker A.N. Shamseer has said.
Inaugurating the MLA Merit Award-2025 in Alappuzha on Saturday, Mr. Shamseer called those opposing Zumba ignorant. 'Islam is a highly progressive religion. It is a few orthodox scholars, cloaked in the attire of Islam, who are voicing opposition. We should not give in to their demands. I will stand firmly behind Education Minister V. Sivankutty on the matter,' the Speaker said.
He said that Zumba was being practised by people of all genders. 'Those who criticise Zumba by claiming that participants wear revealing clothes are truly narrow-minded. The government should not succumb to the pressure of such individuals,' Mr. Shamseer said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Waqf law protest likely to draw large crowd today
1 2 Patna: Patna is set to witness a major mobilisation on Sunday as Muslims from across the country are expected to gather at Gandhi Maidan to voice strong opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The event, titled 'Waqf bachao, dastoor bachao conference', is being organised by Imarat-e-Shariah, which operates in Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. The newly enacted waqf law by the NDA-led central govt is currently under legal scrutiny in the Supreme Court. Critics argue it undermines religious autonomy, infringes upon fundamental rights and violates established legal principles and Supreme Court judgments. "The aim of the conference is to raise a united and dignified voice against the recently enacted Waqf Act, 2025, which is widely seen as trampling upon the Islamic principles of waqf," said a press note issued by the organisers. Fazle Rahma Rahmani, media convener of Imarat-e-Shariah, said, "We cannot give an exact number, but the mobilisation teams have estimated a turnout of around 10 lakh. People are coming not because of prominent personalities, but to register their absolute rejection of the Act." He added that the headquarters of the Imarat-e-Shariah at Phulwarisharif, Patna, is coordinating the effort. "Maulana Ahmad Wali Faisal Rahmani is the chief organiser. Separate mobilisation teams were formed for Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha," he added. Participants began arriving in Patna from Saturday morning. Arrangements have been made for their accommodation in mosques, dharmashalas and community halls across the city. Volunteers will assist with crowd movement and logistics throughout Sunday. "The conference represents a peaceful, democratic and constitutional expression of the community's collective will to demand the rollback of the draconian legislation," the organisers said, adding that the event also carries significant political messaging.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
KSU supports Zumba dance in schools
The Kerala Students Union (KSU) on Saturday offered full support to the government's well-meaning work to curb the spread of addictive substances. Amid opposition from some Muslims groups to introducing Zumba dance in schools as part of a broader anti-drug campaign, Aloshious Xavier, State president of the KSU, said there's no need for controversy over the State government's well-intentioned initiatives against addiction. 'Zumba dance is popular in the State and there's nothing unethical about it. The KSU belives that the controversy is unwarranted,' he said. However, he added that Zumba dance or seizures of contraband drugs from a few cine stars would not suffice to resolve the serious social crisis posed by drug abuse in the student community. 'It requires a deeper intervention,' he added.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Zumba dispute shows no signs of cooling down
The controversy surrounding the introduction of Zumba dance on government and aided school campuses in the State as an anti-drug measure appears to linger on with different Muslim organisations steadfastly opposing the initiative. Muslim groups have been opposing the move by raising concerns about Zumba dance's moral and cultural implications for school campuses. However, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), unlike other Muslim groups, has chosen a measured approach to the Zumba the controversy. The party is of the view that it must study the issue before commenting about it. The Muslim League's cautious approach is reflected in its State general secretary P.M.A. Salam's comments, where he pointed out the need for the State government to address the concerns of all sections about the introduction of Zumba dance in schools. While the IUML has not outrightly opposed Zumba, it has sought discussions and considerations of diverse perspectives before moving forward with the programme. The IUML is of the view that any programme should be implemented in a way acceptable to all sections. While Muslim groups like the Samastha Kerala Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), Samastha Kerala Islam Matha Vidysbhyasa Board, and Wisdom Islamic Organisation are opposing Zumba due to moral and cultural concerns, others are questioning the programme's effectiveness. Moderate groups and individuals in the Muslim community are scrutinising the scientific basis of Zumba as a tool to combat drug abuse among students. C. Mohammed Ajmal, an IIT Madras alumnus and education counsellor, contests the basic idea of the programme. 'Youngsters are turning to drugs in pursuit of pleasure, rather than as a stress-relief mechanism,' he said. In his view, setting and achieving long-term goals can help students discover more significant and rewarding experiences. Wisdom Youth Movement vice president P.P. Naseef urged the government to listen to the concerns of the people who object to Zumba dance before imposing the programme. 'Taking everyone into confidence is always better,' said Dr. Naseef. Meanwhile, the government has decided to proceed with Zumba despite the opposition from Muslim groups. According to Education Minister V. Sivankutty, student can participate in Zumba in their regular uniforms. CPI(M) national secretary M.A. Baby has called upon the people not to mix religion in academics. He said religion should be kept away from public education in a secular country like India. Unless the government finds common ground with protesters, campuses may witness a Zumba showdown when classes resume on Monday.
