MSF, SFI protest after teachers stop pro-Palestine mime show in Kerala school
Kasaragod (Kerala) (PTI): The student organisations MSF and SFI staged protests at a school here on Saturday after teachers allegedly stopped a mime show in support of Palestine.
General Education Minister V Sivankutty said that he has ordered a higher official to to investigate and report about the development.
According to police, the mime show was stopped during the school arts festival at Kumbala Government Higher Secondary School on Friday. Two teachers intervened and asked them to stop the performance before pulling down the stage curtains, they said. The move drew sharp criticism, prompting the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) to convene a meeting on Saturday.
However, activists of Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), barged into the meeting demanding action against the teachers.
The protestors alleged that teachers locked students in a room to stop the event. Pro CPI(M) Student Federation of India (SFI) cadres also staged a protest at the school.
Police later removed the protesters from the premises, and personnel have been deployed on the campus to prevent any untoward incident. Officials said the PTA was looking to resume the arts festival and resolve the issues.
Meanwhile, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said that he has directed the Director of General Education to investigate and submit a report into the incident immediately.
“It is understood that the action was taken because the mime touched upon the issue of Palestine. Kerala has always stood against the atrocities being carried out by Israel and stands in solidarity with the children being targeted in Palestine,” he said.
He added that efforts would be made to allow students at Kumbala School to perform the same mime on stage in the future.
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Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 29-run win over GT
Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).
Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.
In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.
Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.
For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).
GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).
