Schools will not be allowed to become ‘laboratories of communalism’: Kerala government
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has issued a strong warning that schools will not be allowed to turn into “laboratories of communalism,” taking serious note of reports that some private school managements in the state imposed restrictions on Christmas celebrations and refunded money collected from students for the event.
According to reports, certain private schools allegedly run by organisations affiliated with the Sangh Parivar, as well as a privately managed school under a Hindu management, had cancelled Christmas celebrations. These allegations were published in Deshabhimani, the mouthpiece of the CPI(M). However, the schools and their managements concerned have denied the claims.
Describing such developments as unprecedented in a state known for its high level of democratic consciousness and long-standing secular tradition, the Kerala government has ordered an urgent inquiry into the matter.
Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty stated that no one would be allowed to introduce the “North Indian model” of dividing people on the basis of religion or religious belief in educational institutions in Kerala.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said schools are spaces where children learn and grow together, and any attempt to divide students on the basis of caste or religion, or to instil divisive ideas among them, is unacceptable.
He further noted that festivals such as Onam, Christmas, and Eid have traditionally been celebrated in schools across the state, helping children learn values of mutual respect, love, and peaceful coexistence.
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Trump warns he's considering limited strikes as Iranian diplomat says proposed deal is imminent
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump warned on Friday that limited strikes against Iran are possible even as the country's top diplomat said Tehran expects to have a proposed deal ready in the next few days following nuclear talks with the United States.
In response to a reporter's question on whether the US could take limited military action as the countries negotiate, Trump said, “I guess I can say I am considering that.” Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a TV interview that his country was planning to finalise a draft deal in “the next two to three days” to then send to Washington.
“I don't think it takes long, perhaps, in a matter of a week or so, we can start real, serious negotiations on the text and come to a conclusion,” Araghchi said on MSNOW's “Morning Joe” show.
The tensions between the longtime adversaries have ramped up as the Trump administration pushes for concessions from Iran and has built up the largest US military presence in the Middle East in decades, with more warships and aircraft on the way. Both countries have signalled that they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran's nuclear programme fizzle out.
“We are prepared for war, and we are prepared for peace,” Araghchi said Friday.
Trump said a day earlier that he believes 10 to 15 days is “enough time” for Iran to reach a deal following recent rounds of indirect negotiations, including this week in Geneva, that made little visible progress. But the talks have been deadlocked for years, and Iran has refused to discuss wider US and Israeli demands that it scale back its missile program and sever ties to armed groups.
Araghchi also said Friday that his American counterparts have not asked for zero enrichment of uranium as part of the latest round of talks, which is in contradiction to what US officials have said.
"What we are now talking about is how to make sure that Iran's nuclear programme, including enrichment, is peaceful and will remain peaceful forever," he said.
He added that in return Iran will implement some confidence-building measures in exchange for relief on economic sanctions.
In response to Araghchi's claim, a White House official said Trump has been clear that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them and that it cannot enrich uranium. The official wasn't authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Tehran has long insisted that any negotiations should only focus on its nuclear programme and that it hasn't been enriching uranium since US and Israeli strikes last June on Iranian nuclear sites. Trump said at the time that the strikes had “obliterated” Iran's nuclear sites, but the exact damage is unknown as Tehran has barred international inspectors.
Iran has also insisted that its nuclear programme is peaceful. The US and others suspect it is aimed at eventually developing weapons.
