Kerala: Indian state defends Zumba plan amid protests from religious groups

Some religious groups are angry after the government introduced Zumba classes in public schools.

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Some 14,000 state-run schools in Kerala have been asked to organise daily Zumba sessions as part of an anti-drug campaign launched by the government last month.

The decision has been bitterly opposed by some Hindu and Muslim organisations in the state, who say the dance is a form of "cultural invasion".

They are urging parents and teachers to boycott the programme, saying it goes against their religious beliefs and moral values. While the protests have died down, the groups are continuing to oppose the policy.