Kerala minister warns schools against Christmas curbs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala education minister V Sivankutty flagged on Sunday reports of some private schools in the state blocking Christmas celebrations on campus, warning that the LDF govt won't tolerate "divisive models based on religion and belief, as seen in north India".

"Such actions are unheard of in a state like Kerala, known for its...secular culture...Our schools are places where children learn and grow together beyond caste and religious thoughts. We won't let them become communal labs," he said.

The minister's tirade came after CPM mouthpiece 'Deshabhimani' alleged some "Sangh Parivar-run" schools and another with a "Hindu management" decided not to hold Christmas programmes.

At least one institute allegedly collected contributions for the festival before reversing the decision. Some parents jointly petitioned the minister against a school in Thiruvananthapuram that cancelled the celebrations after planning them, sources said.

Sivankutty said schools in Kerala had been celebrating Onam, Christmas and Eid with equal fervour. "It is through such gatherings that children learn to love and respect each other. The act of cancelling celebrations after collecting money and then returning it is both hurtful and cruel to young minds," he said.

The minister said all schools, govt-aided or otherwise, "have a responsibility to uphold the secular principles enshrined in India's Constitution". Without naming any institute or organisation, he warned of strict action against anyone trying to turn schools into what he described as "places that protect narrow political and communal interests".

PTI quoted an RSS functionary as saying it was implausible that any institute would have decided to stop children from celebrating a festival. "We are not against any sort of cultural celebration," he said.

Officials of the "Hindu-management school" mentioned in the CPM mouthpiece clarified that there was no ban on Christmas celebrations in their institution. "But a restriction is imposed on cutting cakesin view of concerns of any possible food poisoning. Christmas celebrations will be held as such," an official said.

At least one institute allegedly collected contributions for the festival before reversing the decision. Some parents jointly petitioned the minister against a school in Thiruvananthapuram that cancelled the celebrations after planning them, sources said.

Sivankutty said schools in Kerala had been celebrating Onam, Christmas and Eid with equal fervour. “It is through such gatherings that children learn to love and respect each other. The act of cancelling celebrations after collecting money and then returning it is both hurtful and cruel to young minds,” he said. The minister said all schools, govt-aided or otherwise, “have a responsibility to uphold the secular principles enshrined in India’s Constitution”. Without naming any institute or organisation, he warned of strict action against anyone trying to turn schools into what he described as “places that protect narrow political and communal interests”.

PTI quoted an RSS functionary as saying it was implausible that any institute would have decided to stop children from celebrating a festival. “We are not against any sort of cultural celebration,” he said.

Officials of the “Hindu-management school” mentioned in the CPM mouthpiece clarified that there was no ban on Christmas celebrations in their institution. “But a restriction is imposed on cutting cakes as part of the celebration in view of concerns of any possible food poisoning. Christmas celebrations will be held as such,” an official told PTI.

“Instructions will be given to the officials concerned to conduct an urgent investigation and submit a report on the matter,” the minister said.




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