Akhilesh Yadav alleges conspiracy behind school mergers, targets BJP over education policy
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, alleging a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the recent move to merge government schools in rural areas.
In a post on X in Hindi, Yadav claimed that the BJP is systematically undermining the education system to deprive future generations of their fundamental right to education.
"Education is the truest measure of development. The continued neglect of education and educators under the BJP government raises serious concerns that this is part of a larger conspiracy," he said.
He alleged that the BJP wants to keep the coming generations uneducated because educated individuals are likely to be more positive, tolerant, and resistant to the kind of "negative politics" of the BJP.
"Education brings awareness, and with it comes the courage to stand united against exploitation and oppression. The self-confidence gained through education poses a threat to authoritarian parties like the BJP," he said, adding, "If there are no schools, there will be no opposition to the BJP."
The former chief minister expressed fears that closing government schools in villages could pave the way for BJP-affiliated organisations to open their institutions "under the garb of service," where they could allegedly propagate "divisive ideologies."
Yadav further accused the ruling party of fostering a crowd of "uneducated, superstitious, and unscientific minds" that could be easily manipulated.
"A truly educated and socially conscious person can never support an ideology like that of the BJP," he said.
Highlighting the symbolic importance of having schools within sight, he said, "It is well known that what disappears from sight disappears from the mind. If schools are no longer visible in villages, the very inspiration for education will vanish."
Questioning the government's priorities, Yadav argued, "If a polling booth can be set up for a single voter, why can't a school be run for 30 children?"
Calling it a part of a broader "conspiracy to further marginalise the already deprived PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) communities," Yadav urged for resistance against the move and demanded the protection and expansion of government-run schools across Uttar Pradesh.
According to sources, the Yogi-Adityanath-led government decided to merge schools to rationalise educational resources and address issues such as low enrolment, teacher shortage, and duplication of infrastructure.
The move, officials claim, aims to consolidate small and under-enrolled schools and merge them with nearby institutions.
There are about 1.40 lakh primary and upper primary government schools in the state, out of which 29,000 have 50 or fewer students, an official said, adding that around 89,000 teachers are posted in these schools.
Yadav also posted a news story from Kannauj, which alleges 38 schools in the districts are facing fear of merger.
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US warns shipping firms they could face sanctions over paying Iranian tolls in Strait of Hormuz
Dubai (AP): The United States is warning shipping companies that they could face sanctions for making payments to Iran to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The alert posted Friday by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control adds another layer of pressure in the standoff between the US and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
About a fifth of the world's trade in oil and natural gas typically passes through the strait at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in peacetime.
Iran effectively closed the strait to normal traffic by attacking and threatening to attack ships after the US and Israel launched a war on Feb. 28. It later began offering some ships safe passage by detouring them through alternate routes closer to its shoreline, charging fees at times for the service.
That "tollbooth” effort is the focus of the US sanctions warning.
The payment demands could include transfers not only in cash but also “digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments,” including chartibale donations and payments at Iranian embassies, OFAC said.
“OFAC is issuing this alert to warn US and non-US persons about the sanctions risks of making these payments to, or soliciting guarantees from, the Iranian regime for safe passage. These risks exist regardless of payment method,” it said.
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The US responded to Iran's closure of the strait with a naval blockade of its own on April 13, preventing any Iranian tankers from leaving and depriving Iran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy.
The US Central Command said 45 commercial ships have been told to turn around since the blockade began.
Trump rejects Iranian proposal
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The warning came as US President Donald Trump swiftly rejected Iran's latest proposal to end the war between the countries.
“They want to make a deal, I'm not satisfied with it, so we'll see what happens,” Trump said Friday at the White House. He didn't elaborate on what he saw as its shortcomings but expressed frustration with the Iranian leadership.
“It's a very disjointed leadership,” Trump said. “They all want to make a deal, but they're all messed up.”
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported Iran handed over its plan to mediators in Pakistan on Thursday night.
The shaky three-week ceasefire between the US and Iran appears to be holding, though both countries have traded accusations of violations. The standoff is increasingly putting pressure on the global economy, driving up prices and leading to shortages of fuel and other products tied to the oil industry.
Negotiations continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys' trip to Pakistan last week, the president said. Trump this week floated a new plan to reopen the critical passageway used by America's Gulf allies to export their oil and gas.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has briefed many of his regional counterparts on the country's initiatives to end the ear, according to his social media. He also held talks Friday with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who is in contact with the EU's Gulf partners.
China's UN envoy urges Iran to lift restrictions
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Fu Cong, the Chinese ambassdor to the United Nations, said Friday that maintaining the ceasefire is “the most urgent issue" as well as bringing together the sides to resume good faith negotiations “to make sure that the ground is laid for reopening of Hormuz.”
Foreign Minister Wang Yi “has been on the phone almost constantly” with representatives from all sides, Fu said, adding that China supports Pakistan's efforts to mediate between the parties.
Fu stressed the root cause of the tremendous suffering in Iran and neighboring countries and the growing turmoil in the global economy, especially in developing countries, “is the illegitimate war by the US and Israel.
