Shun prayers, lamp lighting at functions, says Kerala Minister

August 29, 2016

Kasargod, Aug 29: A Kerala minister is in the eye of a storm over his remarks that lighting of lamps and singing of religious hymns at government programmes and functions at schools should be avoided.SUDHAKARAN

"Our Constitution has no religion or caste.So there is no need to light 'nilavilakku' (traditional lamps) during the inauguration of the government programmes or at functions of schools," said Public Works minister G Sudhakaran while inaugurating a seminar,'Namukku Jathiyilla' (We are not caste driven) at Muthukulam in Alappuzha district last evening.

The senior CPI(M) leader said that the state government does not subscribe to any particular caste or religion.

The minister also claimed that he had recently seen a girl student reciting a prayer in praise of a goddess at a school function.

"Though it was inappropriate,singing of religious prayers and lighting of traditional lamps had become a common practice during official functions in the state now-a-days," he added.

He also suggested that patriotic songs be sung during public functions, instead of religious hymns.
Reacting to his remarks, several people trolled the minister on the social media.

Health Minister K K Shylaja, another senior member in the Pinarayi Vijayan government, had also courted controversy recently by voicing displeasure against the recitation of Sanskrit hymns during a yoga demonstration, organised in connection with the International Yoga Day on June 21.

Comments

Siraj
 - 
Tuesday, 30 Aug 2016

What he said is 100% right. We are in a secular democratic country where the government will have any religion and which will allow its citizens to practice/preach or not to practice any particular religion

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News Network
July 1,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 1: The Bajpe police station under the limits of Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate has been sealed down after an arrested accused was tested positive for the Coronavirus.

Police said on Wednesday that the Bajpe police arrested two persons in connection with plotting dacoity in Oddidakala in Bajpe. After the arrest, their throat swab was sent for a test. On Wednesday, one of the accused tested positive for the Coronavirus.

In this connection, the Bajpe police station has been sealed down and the police personnel who were present during the arrest are placed under home quarantine.

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Agencies
February 13,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 13: UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid quit the Boris Johnson government as part of a cabinet reshuffle unfolding on Thursday and has been replaced by Rishi Sunak, reports said.

Indian-descent Sunak, 39, who is married to Akshata, the daughter of Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, was Chief Secretary to the Treasury since July 2019.

An analyst with Goldman Sachs before joining politics in 2014, Sunak, whose grandparents were from Punjab and emigrated to the UK from east Africa, is MP from Richmond (Yorkshire). He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government in the Theresa May government.

Pakistani-descent Javid, who became the first Asian to become a Cabinet Minister when he was made Secretary of State of culture, Media and Sports in the David Cameron government in 2014 after stints as Economic Secretary to the Treasury (2012-13) and Financial Secretary (2013-14), was earlier the Home Secretary in the the Theresa May government.

He had then cleared absconding businessman Vijay Mallya's extradition to India in February last year following the decision by the Westminister Magistrates Court in December 2018.

Javid, who ran for Conservative Party leadership after May quit but lost to Boris Johnson, was made Chancellor by the later. In the reshuffle on Thursday, he was offered to retain his post if he fired all his advisors but declined and quit, the BBC reported.

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Anusha Bhat | coastaldigest.com
July 24,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 24: Parents in Dakshina Kannada are urging the educational institutions to reduce fees at least by 75% as most of the infrastructure and resources are not being utilized due to online classes. 

“School campuses are now closed. Why we have to pay such a heavy fee when our children are not availing the facilities offered on campus?” asks a Sapna (name changed), a parent, whose two daughters study at a prestigious private school in Mangaluru.  

Even though some schools considered as small players have reduced fees, most of the “prestigious” institutions in the Mangaluru have so far refused to give any discount.

“Apart from paying school fees, now we have to invest in gadgets, internet connections and accessories required for online classes. School administration can use their infrastructure and facilities for other purposes as students are not utilizing them. Hence, they must give us maximum discount during this pandemic,” said another parent.  
 
On the other hand, many parents are facing a dire financial situation due to covid-19 lockdown – while some have suffered losses in their business some have lost their jobs.

Many parents have even approached the education department to ensure that they get a discount in fees from educational institutions, said Dakshina Kannada DDPI Malleswamy.

“We cannot do anything since a government circular has asked educational institutions not to hike fees, which they have not done, and reduce fees if possible, which will never happen. The department is acting against only those schools that forcefully collect fees,” the DDPI said.

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