Muziris Project controversy: Modi fails to keep date with India’s oldest mosque in Kerala

August 27, 2015, 4:51 am

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Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kerala still waiting for Modi visit. A KeralaTourism.org picture.

Staff correspondent, August 27, 2015, NewsCrunch

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to India's oldest mosque, Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kerala, has failed to materialise.

Though dates had never been firmed up, the Prime Minister was expected to visit the  mosque in Methala, Thrissur, in late July or early August this year.

After Modi went to a mosque in Abu Dhabi, a demand was made on him by Indian Muslim leaders to visit a mosque within the country.

Built in 629 AD, the Cheraman Jum'ah Masjid is open to followers of all religions. It has an ancient oil lamp, which is believed to be burning, for more than a thousand years.

But it is not the mosque that has become contentious; Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project that Modi has been invited to inaugurate seems to have become the sticky point, reports The Hindu.

The Muziris Heritage Project seeks to revive an ancient sea port and showcase 3000 years of cosmopolitan Kerala history that was shaped by Arabs, Chinese, Jews, Romans, Portuguese and the Dutch.

The Muziris was the gateway through which first Islam, and later Christianity, landed in India.  

The Sangh Parivar leaders oppose Muziris Heritage Project for reasons, which are not spelt out clearly.

The Hindu quoted a 2011 Organiser article, which said the Left was conspiring to show Muziris as a centre of composite culture of different races, while depicting Hindus as Vanvasis.

According to BJPState president V Muraleedharan, PM Modi had only said he would consider the invite to inaugurate the Muziris project, but had never committed to it.

Related

Video: Watch one-minute clip on Cheraman Juma Masjid, a Kerala mosque Modi is likely to visit

 

Muziris, as shown in the 4th century Tabula Peutingeriana. Wikipedia image

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Video: Watch GSLV D6 lifting off majestically from Sriharikota in copybook launch

August 27, 2015, 5:13 am

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A screen grab of GSLV D6 launch – ISRO image (video below)

Staff Correspondent, August 27, 2015, NewsCrunch

At 4.52 pm on Thursday, GSLV D6 blasted off from the Sriharikota spaceport carrying a two tonne communication satellite GSAT-6.

The 161-feet tall rocket inserted GSAT-6 in the geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) after 17 minutes of flight time.

Indiahas struggled to graduate from PSLV, which runs on solid fuel, to GSLV, a three stage engine rocket.

The first stage blends solid and liquid fuel, the second stage is wholly liquid fuel, and the third stage deploys the cryogenic engine.

The cryogenic engine used in Thursday’s lift-off has been indigenously built. With today’s feat, ISRO has managed to send two successful GSLV rockets to space in a span of a little over a year.

GSLV D6 launch video carrying communication satellite GSAT-6 

Pakistan has more nuke bombs than India; it will soon become world's third largest nuclear weapon power

August 27, 2015, 9:52 am

≫ Next: Now, watch the full video - Chinese cameraman bringing down Usain Bolt with his Segway after his 200 meter win

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At the moment Pakistan has 120 nuclear bombs, while India has 100.

Staff Correspondent, August 27, 2015, NewsCrunch

The anxiety of having a deterrence against India has already made Pakistan build a nuclear bomb collection larger than India's.

At the moment Pakistan has 120 bombs, while India has 100.

More alarmingly, Pakistan is annually adding nuclear warheads faster than India, which in a decade should take its collection to 350.

At that level Pakistan would be the third largest nuclear weapon power in the world after USA and Russia.

This is the data researched by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Stimson Center and reported by The Washington Post.

Pakistan is able to make bombs rapidly as it has a large stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

India has far larger stockpiles of plutonium, but it is using most of its plutonium to produce domestic energy not bombs, the report says.

The report has been disputed by many Pakistani analysts, who say the assumption that Islamabad is using all its uranium to make bombs is simplistic.

Now, watch the full video - Chinese cameraman bringing down Usain Bolt with his Segway after his 200 meter win

August 27, 2015, 10:24 am

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A YouTube screenshot of Chinese cameraman colliding with Usain Bolt after Beijng race (Video below)

Staff Correspondent, August 27, 215, NewsCrunch

Usain Bolt, who was feeling on the top of the world  after winning the 200 metres title at World Athletic Championship, was brought crashing down -  by a Chinese camera man.

If you have seen the short vine videos of this viral incident, time you got to enjoy the full show. 

Usain Bolt is walking all smiles after the race and after vanquishing arch rival Justin Gatlin.

A Chinese  cameraman is riding a Segway to keep pace with Usain Bolt while shooting him at the same time.

The left wheel of the Segway hits a railing and it stumbles. The generously built cameraman loses balance and collides with Usain Bolt dropping the camera.

Caught unawares Usain Bolt comes crashing down but gets back on his feet again with a reverse somersault.

"They tried to kill me," Usain Bolt told the BBC on the incident.

For the record, it was a nasty accident, which could have put Usain Bolt out of action for sometime.

Video: Watch Chinese cameraman's Segway colliding with Usain Bolt after Beijng race

Video review: Mensutra says trend of women naming and shaming men on Facebook is alarming

August 27, 2015, 9:22 pm

≫ Next: Relax, Raju Narayanaswamy IAS is not quitting India, it's just shoddy journalism (With video)

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Do not get into an argument with any woman, says Mensutra (Video below)

Staff correspondent, August 28, 2015, NewsCrunch

A two-day video from Mensutra builds a passionate case to stop naming and shaming people (read men) on social media.

It points out that Jasleen Kaur had already filed an FIR against Saravjeet Singh for his alleged abuses and threats. Where was the need to follow it up with a Facebook post as well, which amounted to an open invite to lynch him virtually?

The FIR had made serious allegations, it had noted his bike number. She should have left it for the police and the court to handle the issue and punish him.

The video also slams the people, who  shared it without knowing the full story and finally, the media for forgetting the basic journalistic ethic of reporting both sides of the story.

The video ends with a final message for men. Do not get into an argument  with any woman or even try to take her out. All she has to do is to click a picture, add some misogynist dialogues and put it on Facebook.

Video: The new trend of Indian girls publicly shaming men on Facebook! (Mensutra)

Relax, Raju Narayanaswamy IAS is not quitting India, it's just shoddy journalism (With video)

August 27, 2015, 10:44 pm

≫ Next: Husband assaults wife after she catches him with another woman at Goa airport (With video)

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A YouTube screen grab of Raju Narayanaswamy IAS, who is not leaving the country

Staff correspondent, August 28, 2015, NewsCrunch

A media report caused flutter on Thursday when it claimed that Raju Narayanaswamy IAS was quitting India and going abroad for good.

Raju Narayanaswamy, a celebrated  Kerala-cadre officer known for his honesty, was leaving the country in disgust, the report suggested.

As the The headline put dramatically: #FailingTheHonest This IAS Officer Who Took On The Govt., Now Considering Leaving The Country

The lengthy report noted in the last para:

Mr. Narayanaswamy is on the verge of leaving IAS to go to Paris to take up a well paid United Nations assignment. The politicians can laugh thinking another obstacle has been removed. But it is the helpless people of this country who will lose - not Narayanaswamy.

The report acknowledged that it was based on a Facebook post.Now here is what is wrong with the report and here is also why Raju Narayanaswamy is not leaving India.

1) The original Facebook report was written in 2011. The reporter in question, probably a novice or lazy or both, based her story on that without noting the year.

To restate, the reportér's story dated 27/August/2015, which said Raju Narayanaswamy was leaving India, was based on a four-year-old Facebook post.

2) A Personnel Ministry website says Raju Narayanaswamy went abroad for training in 2012. Many IAS officers do that and even do short stints with international bodies such as the UN. The lure is the huge pay cheque they receive. They come back and go on to play another long innings in the country.

T S R Subramanian returned from a UN posting, went on to become UP Chief Secretary and later Cabinet Secretary as well.

3) Raju Narayanaswamy came back though to languish in Kerala a bit - he was secretary of stationary and printing. He also got into a fight with Kerala Chief Secretary last year alleging victimisation.

He seems to have gone on central deputation and become Chief Vigilance Officer of a central public undertakings.

Video: Raju Narayanaswamy TedX speech in New Delhi (2013)  

Husband assaults wife after she catches him with another woman at Goa airport (With video)

August 27, 2015, 11:27 pm

≫ Next: Why did Salman Khan cut off the Sooraj-Athiya kissing scene from Hero?

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A screen shot of the video - husband, wife, girlfriend fight at  Goa airport (video below)

Staff correspondent, August 28, 2015, NewsCrunch

A man was caught on camera assaulting his wife after she found him cheating with another woman.

The video shows a nasty brawl between them, which culminates in the  husband slapping and kicking the woman.

The incident reportedly unfolded at an airport in Goa.

The video which went public on Thursday shows a couple, who are accosted by another woman, claiming to be the man's wife. While the man does not dispute the claim he is far from being defensive or apologetic.

He refuses to go with his wife, who in the a fit of temper slaps the woman, she calls his mistress.

The husband is enraged and slaps his wife and even kicks her in the stomach. Onlookers mostly taxi drivers, who are quietly watching the drama till then, intervene and restrain the husband, cautioning him.

Video: husband, wife, girlfriend fight at  Goa airport  

Why did Salman Khan cut off the Sooraj-Athiya kissing scene from Hero?

August 28, 2015, 3:56 am

≫ Next: Video: Interview with Free Kasol café owner Shashi Devi – Indians not banned, she says

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Salman Khan said he could not allow his kids to do so

Staff Correspondent, August 28, 2015, NewsCrunch

Salman Khan, the producer of Hero, has cut off a kissing scene of the lead pair Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty in the movie.

In a song Khoya Khoya the two had brushed their lips lightly while lying on the back of the truck.

Even that innocent peck came under Salman Khan’s wrath, who cut off the scene using his veto power.

Pune Mirror reports Salaman Khan telling director Nikhil Advani saying when he himself had never kissed anyone on screen, he could not allow his kids to do so.

“My Kids,” that is how Salaman Khan calls his protégées Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty.

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Video: Interview with Free Kasol café owner Shashi Devi – Indians not banned, she says

August 28, 2015, 5:43 am

≫ Next: Raped by her step father Indrani Mukerjea was allegedly both Sheena Bora's mother and sister

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Free Kasol café owner Shashi Devi tells her side of the story – Indians are welcome (video below)

Staff Correspondent, August 28, 2015, NewsCrunch

Budding reporter Saif Syed has interviewed the owner of the Free Kasol café, which was in news early this month, for its alleged refusal to admit Indians.

Stefan Kaye, a British musician, had complained that the owner of Free Kasol cafe had refused to serve an Indian woman with whom he had gone to eat.

Free Kasol café has an Israeli menu and loyal clientele from that country.

The report of the incident went viral, triggering an outrage and an official probe. Imagine, the nerve of the Free Kasol cafe owner, who discriminates against Indians in favour of Israelis, in their own country!

Shashi Devi, the owner of Free Kasol café walks in for an interview with Saif Syed.

She is a frail Himachali woman in traditional attire, with her head covered. Not your copybook beefy racist surrounded with bouncers.

Speaking in pahadi Hindi and with a charm that comes only to the people of the mountain, Shashi Devi denies that there was any racism involved.

The waiter had given just one menu to the British-Indian couple, who came to eat. That led to an argument and an exchange of heated words. The couple were asked to leave.

Shashi Devi reminds that it is her establishment and she has made people leave in the past as well, those who did not behave to her liking.

She says she has a problem if a boisterous group walks in with beer bottles in hand.

She is also an Indian, Shashi Devi says. “Who else would she feed, if she did not feed  Indians,” she adds.

Saif Syed goes on to speak to customers, who are from Israel, and a few Indian tourists on the street. He does not find any discrimination at Free Kasol café.

Video: Watch Free Kasol café owner Shashi Devi saying no discrimination against Indians 

Related 
Video: Watch Kasol, a mini-Israel in Himachal Pradesh, whereIndians are not welcome 

Raped by her step father Indrani Mukerjea was allegedly both Sheena Bora's mother and sister

August 28, 2015, 9:42 am

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The report partially vindicates Indrani Mukerjea’s longstanding attempt to make a sister out of Sheena Bora.

Staff Correspondent, August 28, 2015, NewsCrunch

As a minor, Indrani Mukerjea had been reportedly raped by her step father, and Sheena Bora was born as a result, says a media report.

If authenticated , the report partially vindicates Indrani Mukerjea’s longstanding attempt to make a sister out of Sheena Bora. It also throws light on her complex psyche born out of unstable possibly vicious relationships.

Catch News, former Tehelka Editor Shoma Chaudhary's latest venture, reports that during interrogation, Indrani Mukerjea has told Mumbai police that she had been raped by her step father when she was just 17 and Sheena Bora was the outcome of that unwanted encounter.

Indrani Mukerjea’s biological father had left the house when she was very young and her mother had reportedly married his brother.

After the incident Indrani Mukerjea left Guwahati for Kolkata where she married a tea magnate and later a businessman.

This version of the early Indrani Mukerjea life has been partially corroborated by journalist Vir Sanghvi, who had worked closely with Mukerjeas in their Newsx venture till falling out with them acrimoniously.

Speaking to India Today TV, he said Indrani Mukerjea would often state that she had been molested by her father.

Indrani Mukerjea's dark history seems to have  unfortunately continued with her daughter as well.

The Quint reported on Thursday that Sheena Bora was a few months pregnant, when she had been murdered. It said a person very close to Indrani Mukerjea, was responsible.

The report said the man in question had his moral compass switched off. When confronted by Indrani Mukerjea, he reportedly pointed out that in the society they moved in such dalliances were common.

Related

Marriage number 4: Report of another possible marriage of Indrani Mukerjea surfaces 

Arrested for sister's murder: The sudden rise and abrupt fall of Indrani Mukerjea 

Mumbai police say Sheena was Indrani Mukerjea’s daughter not sister 

While Hindus paid Jizya, Aurangzeb collected exclusive Islamic taxes from Muslims

August 28, 2015, 9:28 pm

≫ Next: Moral policing: Mangalore college suspends Hindu boy and Muslim girl for falling in love

≪ Previous: Raped by her step father Indrani Mukerjea was allegedly both Sheena Bora's mother and sister

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A major charge against  Aurangzeb was that he imposed a hated Jizya tax on Hindus. Wiki image

Staff Correspondent, August 29, 2015, NewsCrunch

The Delhi Government's  decision to name Aurangzeb  road after A P J Kalam has been widely welcomed as in the Hindu mind, the last major Mughal emperor was a fanatic, who targeted them.

Aurangzeb reportedly demolished temples, converted Hindus, promoted Islam, was blood thirsty, clamped down on arts and music.

A major charge against  Aurangzeb was that he imposed a hated Jizya tax on Hindus - to institutionalise discrimination against non-Muslims.

An article in Spiritual World gives a different perspective on that controversy.

Aurangzeb abolished 65 taxes on general population that led to an annual loss of fifty million rupees to his exchequer. That put him under pressure to find newer ways to mobilise revenue, and Jizya was one of them.

But why target only Hindus? Because he was already extracting certain levies from Muslims, which Hindus were not paying.

All Muslims had to pay Islamic taxes such Zakat (2.5% of savings),  Ushr (10% of agriculture products) and charity charges such as Sadaqah, Fitrah, and Khums, from which Hindus were exempted.

Aurangzeb was possibly striking a balance by imposing Jizya.

Moral policing: Mangalore college suspends Hindu boy and Muslim girl for falling in love

August 28, 2015, 10:47 pm

≫ Next: Marriage number 4: Report of another possible marriage of Indrani Mukerjea surfaces

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Mangalore moral cops oppose Hindu Muslim couples - two students suspended in Sullia

Staff Correspondent, August 29, 2015, NewsCrunch

A Government PUC college in Sullia, Mangalore district, suspended a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl for two weeks  after protests broke out about their alleged relationship.

The Telegraph reports that the boy is in the second year PUC and the girl is a year junior to him.

An inquiry has reportedly found out  that the two had exchanged text messages and were also possibly spotted at a local cybercafe.

Other students reportedly opposed the affair and protested loudly disrupting the classes.

The principal told The Telegraph that suspending the students was the only way to pacify agitated students.

August saw a spurt in the cases of moral policing in Mangalore district, which has seen  steep polarisation between Hindus and Muslims.

Last week, a Muslim man was beaten up and stripped for being seen with a Hindu girl. Prior to that another college had suspended two girls whose partying photos had gone viral.

Related

Video: Watch Mangalore moral cops beating up Muslim man for going out with Hindu girl 

Moral policing in Mangalore: College suspends girls after their party photos go viral on WhatsApp 

Marriage number 4: Report of another possible marriage of Indrani Mukerjea surfaces

August 29, 2015, 2:30 am

≫ Next: Jayalaithaa visits ailing Cho Ramaswamy and says think positively - video goes viral

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Indrani Mukerjea had reportedly married a Guwahati doctor’s son when she was barely 16.

Staff Correspondent, August 29, 2015, NewsCrunch

Indrani Mukerjea, who is facing the charge of murdering her own daughter Sheena Bora, may have been married four times, not three as reported.

Quoting a close relative of the BorasThe Telegraph said Indrani Mukerjea had married the son of a well-known Guwahati doctor when she was barely 16.

The marriage, which had taken place at the Kamakhya temple, had reportedly not been accepted by the doctor’s family.

" Within six months, they had a bitter parting. Their temperaments were very different. The temple wedding was not registered," the source informed the newspaper.

The Telegraph was the first publication to break the news that Sheena Bora was Indrani Mukerjea’s daughter, not sister as she had claimed.

It is known that Indrani Mukerjea left for Kolkata at an early age where she had two failed marriages with Sidharth Das and Sanjeev Khanna. She then shifted to Mumbai, met and married Star TV boss Peter Mukerjea.

Piecing together Indrani Mukerjea’s early life, which may hold the key to her motive for allegedly murdering her own daughter, is proving to be elusive as there are several conflicting versions.

According to a version which surfaced on Friday, Indrani Mukerjea had been sexually assaulted by her step father prompting her to shift to Kolkata.

Related

Arrested for sister's murder: The sudden rise and abrupt fall of Indrani Mukerjea 

Mumbai police say Sheena was Indrani Mukerjea’s daughter not sister 

Raped by her step father Indrani Mukerjea was allegedly both Sheena Bora's mother and sister 

Jayalaithaa visits ailing Cho Ramaswamy and says think positively - video goes viral

August 29, 2015, 4:28 am

≫ Next: Modi comes under heavy fire from over 100 top US academics - he is damaging India

≪ Previous: Marriage number 4: Report of another possible marriage of Indrani Mukerjea surfaces

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Jayalaithaa meets Cho – Pic: Tamil Nadu Information and Public Relations Department (video below)

Staff correspondent, August 29, 2015, NewsCrunch

A video of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalaithaa visiting her good friend Cho Ramaswamy in hospital gone viral.

As Jayalalithaa walks into the room, a nurse greets her, which she acknowledges. As Cho is lying with his eye closed, his wife comes and alerts him to check who had come to see him.

Two of them exchanges pleasantries and Jayalaithaa enquires about his health asking him to not to lift his head.

Jayalaithaa asks him to think positively and says if he can believe that he will get better, then he would.

To give him confidence, Jayalaithaa makes light of his illness, and says it happens to everybody.

Cho apologises for making her to come visit him, but she says with a smile that it is no trouble at all.

It is not clear where the grainy footage has been sourced from, though the Tami Nadu government released a photograph of the meeting.

The video is being shared by Jayalaithaa fans as it gives a rare glimpse to her human side. Jayalaithaa, who has also battled reports of serious illness, is seen assuring Cho in a cheerful tone.

Cho, the 79-year old Tamil journalist, has been ill with age-related problems. He and Jayalaithaa have been good friends for decades.

Viral video of J Jayalaithaa visiting her good friend Cho Ramaswamy

#TamilNadu #CMJayalalitha Speaks with #CHORamasamy !Watch her caring words...தமிழக முதல்வர் ஜெயலலிதா, சோ ராமசாமியை சந...
Posted by Tamil Flash News on Friday, August 28, 2015

Modi comes under heavy fire from over 100 top US academics - he is damaging India

August 29, 2015, 6:46 am

≫ Next: India first: Sania Mirza in Delhi, two days before US open, to receive Khel Ratna Award (Watch video)

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The trigger for the letter is Modi’s forthcoming visit to Silicon Valley.

Staff correspondent, August 29, 2015, NewsCrunch

Over 100 top USacademics have written a letter giving a stinging appraisal of Modi’s first year in office.

In the letter released to the left-wing journal Economic and Political Weekly they have accused Modi of a several serious misdemeanour, including appointment of  incompetent individuals such as Gajendra Chauhan to FTII.

The letter has been signed by the who’s who of the academics from the Indian diaspora and also American experts on Indiasuch as Wendy Doniger.

The trigger for the letter is Modi’s forthcoming visit to Silicon Valley.

The letter advises US tech firms to be wary of Modi’s Digital India initiative, which enhances surveillance and represses rights of citizens.

In his first year in office, Modi has censored and harassed his critics, restricted NGOs, attacked religious freedom, and steadily impinged on the independence of the judiciary, it alleges.

Modi has also led an attack on autonomy of academic institutions such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Indian Institutes of Technology, NalandaUniversity and IIMs, it notes.

Among other things, Modi has also made incompetent appointments to the Indian Council of Historical Research, the Film and Television Institute of India, and the National Book Trust, say the academics.

The letter also draws attention to Modi’s history, his role in Gujarat riots and his subsequent US visit ban.

There is still an active case in Indian courts on his role in the Gujarat riots, it notes.

Arjun Appadurai, Akeel Bilgrami, Partha Chatterjee, Wendy Doniger, Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Vijay Prashad, Ajantha Subramanian and  Kamala Visweswaran are among those who have signed the letter.

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India first: Sania Mirza in Delhi, two days before US open, to receive Khel Ratna Award (Watch video)

August 29, 2015, 7:21 am

≫ Next: Akshay Kumar and sister Alka Bhatia break the Internet with Raksha Bandhan Dubsmash (Watch video)

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Sania Mirza, who is preparing for the tournament, had flown in just to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award (Video below)

Staff correspondent, August 29, 2015, NewsCrunch

Tennis star Sania Mirza made it a point to be in New Delhi to personally collect her Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, two days ahead of the US Open, which starts on Monday.

Sania Mirza, who is preparing for the tournament, had flown in just to receive the award.

The President awarded Sania Mirza the country's highest sporting honour in a glittering ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

A short video shows Sania, who came in a maroon saree and blue blazer, standing in attention as her citation is read. She walks up to the stage to receive her award.

The packed audience at the Darbar hall broke into a thunderous applause as she collected her medal, certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 7.5 lakh.

It is common for sportspersons to give the award ceremonies a miss. It is rare for anyone, who is on the verge of a major tournament, to turn up for the presentation ceremony.

For the record, Arjuna awardees  cricketer Rohit Sharma, boxer Mandeep Jangra and quarter miler M R Poovamma did not turn for the event as they are professionally engaged at the moment.

Video: Watch Sania Mirza receiving Khel Ratna Award at Rashtrapati Bhawan

Akshay Kumar and sister Alka Bhatia break the Internet with Raksha Bandhan Dubsmash (Watch video)

August 29, 2015, 8:52 am

≫ Next: Global outrage after UP Khap sentences two sisters to gang rape - 100,000 sign Amnesty petition in UK

≪ Previous: India first: Sania Mirza in Delhi, two days before US open, to receive Khel Ratna Award (Watch video)

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A screenshot of Akshay Kumar- Alka Bhatia’s Rakhi celebration (Video below)

 Staff correspondent, August 29, 2015

Akshay Kumar and sister Alka Bhatia have set an unbeatable Raksha Bandhan record for any sibling act with a hilarious Ram Leela scene.

The Bollywood star released the video on the Raksha Bandhan day which celebrates the brother-sister relationship.

Akshay Kumar plays Ravan and Alka Bhatia, Sita. The video shows Akshay Kumar clad in a half-saree, dancing to the rustic Ram leela music, and clearly overacting. He is joined by his foot-tapping sister, who plays the Sita.

Ravan casts off his camouflage and reveals himself, threatening to kidnap Sita, who in turn gives him a slap.

The video, which shows the playful bond Akshay Kumar and Alka Bhatia enjoy, is going viral.

Born in Amritsar Akshay Kumar and Alka Bhatia grew up together and have remained close. Akshay Kumar says he has never fought with her and, in fact, credits her for having taught him how to reconcile differences and manage relationships.

The only time there was any tension in their relationship was when Akshay Kumar opposed Alka Bhatia seeing Sanjeev Hiranandani, the real estate magnate. But when they marred in 2012 Akshay Kumar was there managing the show and enjoying every bit of it.

Video: Watch Akshay Kumar and sister Alka Bhatia viral Raksha Bandhan Dubsmash video

Global outrage after UP Khap sentences two sisters to gang rape - 100,000 sign Amnesty petition in UK

August 29, 2015, 6:41 pm

≫ Next: What ban? T-Series has been quietly dubbing Hindi songs into Kannada for years (With videos)

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A screengrab of a Khap Panchayat - which have triggered a global controversy

Staff correspondent, August 30, 2015, NewsCrunch

More than 100,000 Britons have signed a petition to put pressure on the Uttar Pradesh Government to protect two Indian sisters, who have been sentenced to be gang-raped by a local Khap Panchayat.

The Khap Panchayat of the Baghpat village handed out the punishment to two Dalit sisters Meenakshi Kumari, 23, and her 15-year-old sister after their brother eloped with a married Jat woman.

The sisters approached the Supreme Court on Friday seeking protection from the  Khap verdict.

The incident received intense coverage in several countries from Australia to UK to USA.  Time, Mashable, Washington Times, The Daily Telegraph, The independent and Al-Jazeera were some of the publications that took note of the controversy.

In the UK, the issue was reported by almost all major publications prompting British MPs to lobby with their government to put pressure on India to act.

Nadhim Zahawi, who is on the UK foreign affairs select committee, condemned the Khap ruling and urged the UK Foreign Office to intervene.

PTI quoted a British Foreign Office spokesperson saying, UK was committed to working with the Indian Government on addressing violence against women in India. 

The media coverage also made nearly 100,000 Britons sign an Amnesty petition condemning the "disgusting" ruling. 

The Mirror quoted Amnesty UK's Rachel Alcock saying the sentence had provoked a global outrage.

"There must also be a proper, independent investigation into these barbaric and illegal orders which apparently continue to be issued by the khap panchayat courts," she added.

The sisters' brother Ravi was in a relationship with a Jat girl from the same village, who was married off to another person early this year.

But she and Ravi eloped later, prompting the Khap Panchayat to pass a vindictive order against his sisters. Besides trying to subject them to gang rape, the Khap Panchayat also said the sisters should be paraded naked with blackened faces to punish them for their brother's actions.

Activists are also worried about the safety of the Jat woman, who is pregnant with Ravi's child.

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What ban? T-Series has been quietly dubbing Hindi songs into Kannada for years (With videos)

August 29, 2015, 8:35 pm

≫ Next: Besides Bal Thackeray, Hardik Patel was also inspired by Gujarat rioter Babu Bajrangi

≪ Previous: Global outrage after UP Khap sentences two sisters to gang rape - 100,000 sign Amnesty petition in UK

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Sunny Leone's Baby Doll song from Ragini MMS 2 has become  Chinnada Gombe Na in Kannada! (Video below)

Staff correspondent, August 30, 2015, NewsCrunch

Sandalwood, the Kannada film industry, is split vertically on the  dubbing controversy.

After the Karnataka High Court and Competition Commission of India (CCI) ruled that dubbing ban was illegal, many have come out in support of the decision. But the old guard remains steadfast in its opposition arguing that dubbed content will finish off the struggling industry.

Kannada film industry has resisted dubbing of any content into Kannada; even programmes with strong social messages like Satya Mewa Jayate were not exempt from the informal ban placed by an industry association.

But T-Series has been dubbing many of its songs into Kannada and releasing them on YouTube for more than two years now. It owns the content and the Kannada industry association has no influence over the distribution channel, which is owned by Google  and is hungry for content.

The quality of dubbed lyrics and performance is also professional.

The T-series regional channel on YouTube has  dubbed Aashiqui 2 songs into several languages, including Kannada. The Kannada Version of Sunn Raha Hai has clocked over 56,000 views.

Late last year T-Series Kannada dubbed Sunny Leone's "Baby Doll" song from Bollywood film "Ragini MMS 2." The former adult star now croons  "Chinnada Gombe Na" in Sandalwood!

Video: Watch Kannada version of  Sunny Leone's Baby Doll from Ragini MMS 2 (Chinnada Gombe Na)

Video: Watch Kannada Version of Asshiqui 2's Sunn Raha Hai

Besides Bal Thackeray, Hardik Patel was also inspired by Gujarat rioter Babu Bajrangi

August 29, 2015, 9:50 pm

≫ Next: Last visuals: Video shows rationalist M M Kalburgi being wheeled out of district hospital

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A YouTube screengrab of Hardik Patel, who counts on Bal Thackeray and Babu Bajrangi as his role models

Staff correspondent, Auust 30, 2015, NewsCrunch

Hardik Patel, who counts controversial Hindutva icon Bal Thackeray as an influence, says he has also been inspired by Babu Bajrangi, a Gujarat Bajrang Dal leader.

Babu Bajrangi, whose real name is Babubhai Patel,  has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court for his role in Gujarat riots of 2002. He was a key accused in the Naroda Patiya massacre in which ninety-seven Muslims were murdered.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the new political sensation from Gujarat, Hardik Patel, named Babu Bajrangi as an inspiration figure.

When Indian Express pointed at Babu Bajrangi's role in Gujarat riots, Hardik Patel said: “We need good people to protect society.”

Hardik Patel also seems to have followed Babu Bajrangi's footsteps in his initial work.

Bajrangi managed Navchetan Trust, which sought to protect the honour of Hindu women by "rescuing” them from marriages to Muslims and Christians.

In 2011, Hardik started the Sardar Patel Sevadal to protect Patidar women from harassment and eve-teasing.  Hardik claims to have handled 6,000 cases of sexual harassment over a period of two years and says much of his initial popularity came from this work.

Hardik Patel's new revelations would restrict his choice of political friends.  After his initial rallies demanding reservation of Patels, he had been assured support by Janata Dal(U) leader Nitish Kumar.

But after  Hardik Patel praised Bal Thackeray, another JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav decided to keep distance with him, reports The Hindu.

On Saturday, Hardik Patel had also been quoted saying only Muslims, who behaved like Dr Kalam, were welcome to stay in the country, not those who acted like Dawood Ibrahim.

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