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Is Kapil Sharma married?

August 5, 2015

India’s most favourite stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma recently visited US and Canada with his ‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’ team. He was apparently unwell a few days ago and was hence missing from two episodes of the super-hit TV show.

Interestingly, an image of Kapil has been in circulation on social media. The picture in question shows Kapil sporting a turban like a groom with a sehra around tied to it. He is also seen wearing a sherwani.

The picture clearly indicates that it is from Kapil’s wedding. But whether or not its from his real wedding is yet to be ascertained.

The television king will be seen making his Bollywood debut with Abbas- Mustan’s ‘Kis Kisko Pyaar Karu’ so there is a possibility that the picture is a movie still.

Wonder when will Mr. Sharma clarify!

‘Sex sells’ – Sunny Leone’s response to India porn ban

Afternoon Voice

August 5, 2015

When everyone is reacting to the ban imposed on pornographic websites by the Indian government, how could porn star-turned-Bollywood actress Sunny Leone be left behind.

Sunny, who normally tries to evade questions on her racy past, has made a statement on the porn ban in her unique manner.

Sunny tweeted to share a picture of hers along with husband Daniel Weber. The interesting part of the tweet was Weber’s shirt that carried the message – ‘Sex Sells’.

She ‘completed’ the tweet with two winks.

Netizens Attack PornGate

Afternoon Voice

August 4, 2015

According to them ban on porn is a step towards talibanisation of India.

The government’s decision to ban 857 adult content websites has evoked criticism from social media. Netizens said that the government can’t be interfering with an individual’s right to watch porn in the privacy of his home. Many of them said that ban on porn is a step towards talibanisation of India which needs to be curbed. Internet users trying to access several porn websites found them unavailable. The government latter clarified that the ban on porn is temporary and it will appoint an ombudsman to monitor cyber content.

“What we have done is temporary. The government is acting purely on the Supreme Court observation that government needs to take stand on the issue of blocking of pornography websites in the country, especially child pornography. Free and open access to such content is an issue,” said government authorities after the outrage on social media.

The Supreme Court had said it cannot stop an adult from exercising his fundamental right to personal liberty to watch porn within the privacy of his room.

Declining a plea to pass an interim order to block porn websites in India, Chief Justice H.L. Dattu had said, “Such interim orders cannot be passed by this court. Somebody may come to the court and say look I am above 18 and how can you stop me from watching it within the four walls of my room. It is a violation of Article 21 [right to personal liberty].” The Chief Justice was hearing a PIL petition filed by advocate Kamlesh Vashwani to block porn websites in India. Vashwani had also stated that there are 4 crore porn websites operating in the country.

We spoke to various people from different walks of life to know about their views about the porn ban issue. This is what they had to say

Ashutosh Mishra, Senior Correspondent ANI said, “Which era we are living in, is the question being asked in social media by celebrities, tweeples and even liberals.”

Carlyta Mouhini, writer journalist said, “The Government decision to ban porn sites is just a superficial effort taken to address hypothetical issue. Also, the ban has taken place without seeking national consensus, which itself is unconstitutional. A debate has to be convened to discuss ill effects of porn, if any, and logically conclude how banning porn serves the society at large. Clearly the decision taken is not unanimous and reflects dictatorship mindset. The government should rather look at other societies and also refer to research at some level, if they are looking for permanent solutions to the issues. Alas, few decisions taken by the Modi government are not appropriate and they need to look into the core of the issue if they want to deliver flawless democracy.”

Dipaljan Ghosh, A TCS employee said, “Banning porn is only justified if another approach to sex is cultivated alongside. Gynaecologists, sexologists, psychologists, creative writers and film-makers should get together and cook up things very spicy and entertaining that also helps one discover and understand own-self and the partner. The access could be given after a certain age like voting right and alcohol. We don’t have to ban porn if we can modify the approaches we want to ban.”

Kamlesh Sutar, TV Today Journalist said, “The government is promoting star of soft porn movies like ‪#‎junglelove ‪ ‎waasna ‪#‎junglekirani ‪#‎khulikhidki ‪. Just wondering some supporter to come ahead and defend saying this actually is part of promoting ‪#‎makeinindia …let’s promote desistuff …. Is certain Ms Sunny listening ??? ‪#‎pornban.”

Amandeep Saini, RJ Radio Punjab said, “Sunny Leone needs the promotions so the reverse psychology is used by banning porn. Now more people will search it online and it will for sure become a huge business and at time ‘Moderate Groups’ will somehow get it unbanned from the government of that time. If we look at other angle, I would love to demolish the Indian government promoted ‘KHAJURAHO ‘ temple and burn all the ‘sacred’ texts talking about sex. What kind of hypocrites. We didn’t vote for this government to take me to dark ages.”

Mohit Shah, a real estate consultant said, “A small step by government should be admired instead of criticizing it. Atleast parents are happy to know their kids would not misuse the internet and rather use it properly. We are socially responsible citizens and we should stand for it and appreciate such steps.”

Navin Bhaven a call centre employee said, “There are about 50 lakh porn sites, lakhs of porn twitter handle’s, pages and vine videos. The government is foolish.. In India things which are banned gather more attention. The government needs to become mature. Since some porn sites are blocked people discovering those unblocked sites and sharing it. The government has created further curiosity by blocking these sites.”

Abhijeet Banerjee said, “Nirbhaya documentary clearly shows the perpetrators and advocates skewed patriarchal attitudes which led to unimaginable crimes. Greater focus on improving views about woman is the real fight. But there is no tangible action plans on that. Non-spent Nirbhaya fund shows where the government stands. What will these god-loving, morality bashers do when they see Khajuraho and other temples? Will they abandon those? This is an ambiguous move to say the least.”

Subhir Rajan said, “Well I do agree that perversion is in the mind of a person and hence porn sites do not directly has a bearing on sex related crimes.”

When asked whether ban on porn will not make a difference he replied, “It won’t make a difference. And how many of the rapes that have occurred are attributed to porn sites? It is also ingrained into our society’s double standards.”

“My daughter is studying in Wageningen university in Netherlands. She elaborated on the harassment that girls faced on daily basis while travelling or in public. And also she was asked upfront by a Dutch whether she had experienced sexual harassment. She had travelled widely in Europe and has never felt any gender related harassment. Even they have walked through the streets of Prague at midnight and never felt any danger which I think is next to impossible if she would have been in India. Does that mean there are no porn sites accessible to them? It is our perverted mind which is the cause of gender crimes” he added.

Director, writer and producer Shirish Kunder tweets, “Don’t worry about #PornBan. New radio program starting soon: #TannKiBaat.”

Actor Sonam Kapoor tweeted, “Ban idiots who think banning things is going to make a difference to Indian mentality.. #sooverthisgovt #NextBanIdea #sick #ashamed.”

Meanwhile, former IT and telecom minister Milind Deora joined the voices of dissent on Twitter. Deora tweeted, “And the government takes one more step towards the Talibanization of India….”

“Porn ban is anti-freedom, impractical, not enforceable. Politically not very smart too avoidable. Let’s not manage people’s private lives,” best-selling author Chetan Bhagat wrote on Twitter.

The government later reviewed its decision to ban porn and it will be restricted to child and hardcore porn.

Union Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “The ban on porn websites would be removed and only websites that showed child pornography would be banned.”

Porn ban in India… Will it work or not?

August 4, 2015

With the central government banning some of the pornographic websites, I personally believe that accessing the blocked stuff on the Internet, is not difficult as many free proxy and virtual private network (VPN) services make it available for the eager user. Moreover, forget about internet, nowadays porn clips are circulated through cell phones. WhatsApp is another maniac, which circulate any kind of stuff through its servers. In a city like Mumbai, you visit any railway stations; you will get cheap CD shops where they openly sell porn, C grade movies and also the readable literature available. Sex chat calls on phones and dating websites are also another way of spreading porn.

Working parents remain out of home for more than 12 hours leaving their children alone. These youngsters find ways to explore and browse whatever they want. There are video parlours across the city; reputed newspapers sell soft porn in the name of agony aunt, confession corner types of columns. We Indians, knowingly or unknowingly, living with porn and perversion around. Banning these few websites is not the solution unless people change their mindsets. India is full of prudes, won’t discuss such topics openly. Porn is real. It always has been through the history. It can’t be stopped.

Rapid expansion of computers, cell phones and television has not made people tech-savvy overnight. One must also admit that these gadgets have helped people in educating them more effective way than mere school education. Look around and see who doesn’t have a cell phone. Though we may not like it, the internet content has played a major role in this, just as the initial TV channels. So, in Indian context, it is better not to restrict internet usage or bring so called moral control on people. We human have one tendency that whatever is banned we take more interest and watch it curiously. So much ‘hue and cry’ over ban has created ripples and craze in young generation, now they are more active on internet to find which all sites are not banned and they are sharing it among groups. All of sudden search for porn has gone up.

The Ministry of Communications, Information and Technology, in its order of July 31 under section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act 2000 had banned 857 websites terming their content “immoral and indecent”. There’s always a workaround for accessing blocked website as long as it exists on the Internet. The easiest method would be to make use of proxies and VPN’s. Many proxy and VPN services make it possible to access the banned stuff with complete anonymity on the Internet. Accessing blocked websites is even easier on android devices due to free VPN apps. Apart from the basic VPN feature, the app even allows you to switch countries with ease, which makes it easy to bypass geographically blocked websites.

The Supreme Court in its observation on the issue on July 8 had said banning such sites would be violation of an individual’s right to liberty. Such interim orders cannot be passed by this court. One day somebody can come to the court and say, “Look, I am an adult and how can you stop me from watching it within the four walls of my room? It is a violation of Article 21 (right to personal liberty) of the constitution. While the government hasn’t said anything publicly on the censorship, access to popular pornography websites seems to have been restricted by several ISPs. Critics of the government’s move said the state should stop interfering with what adults are doing privately.

Porn or sexual presentation exists from the time human came out of cave. It’s more ancient than Egypt old pornographic habit. Porn doesn’t increase crime against women. It’s the horrible mentality Indian men have. Every country has sexual crime. However, sexual crimes existed way before the internet arrived. Banning is not a solution but giving awareness and proper sex education will. Sex education should be given to school children. Most of the Indians now have little knowledge with regards to sex apart from the obvious understanding. The actions, premature pregnancy and ill-informed acts often indicate the harm that this has caused amongst people due to lack of information. Keep information open and available. Pictures, porn should be available to the people of India. Let People watch it, sometimes they use such information to educate themselves, dislike it or love it. Let each human being take his or her own call. As much as many may deny, porn has often been an educational tool in the subcontinent where education in relation to having sex is extremely limited. Secondly, if pictures are subject to such censorship, then text too should go through its censorship. I am aware of several magazines, books which have words which are objectionable. Eventually, it will result more circulation of mobile videos, obtaining porn magazine, or perhaps they will read books with erotic content. I am not sure will this really deliver the objective. Tabooing information has never helped, nor will it in future for any society.

Anyway, we can control porn but who will guarantee that the mind of the perverts will also change?

Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani, admits ex-FIA chief Tariq Khosa

Afternoon Voice

August 4, 2015

A former top Pakistani security official has admitted for the first time that the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2008 were launched from the Pakistani soil.

Tariq Khosa, former director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) tasked with probing the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has made the admission in an opinion piece published on the website of Pakistani newspaper Dawn.

“Pakistan has to deal with the Mumbai mayhem, planned and launched from its soil,” Khosa wrote in the backdrop of the Prime Ministers of both India and Pakistan agreeing in Russia’s Ufa recently that they were “prepared to discuss all outstanding issues”.

Nailing Pakistan’s lie, the former FIA DG, who once supervised the Mumbai attacks probe, revealed certain “facts” including on Ajmal Kasab that he was from Pakistan.

“Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani national, whose place of residence and initial schooling as well as his joining a banned militant organisation was established by the investigators,” Khosa wrote in the opinion piece while talking about the lone captured Mumbai attacks terrorist who was later executed by India.

He also admitted that the 10 terrorists who launched the deadly strikes on Mumbai on the night of November 26, 2008 were from the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). He also revealed that the terrorists were trained near Thatta in Sindh.

“The Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists were imparted training near Thatta, Sindh and launched by sea from there,” Khosa wrote.

The explosives used in the deadly terror attacks were also traced to this training camp, he stated further.

“The training camp was identified and secured by the investigators. The casings of the explosive devices used in Mumbai were recovered from this training camp and duly matched,” Khosa said.

He further revealed that the fishing trawler in which the terrorists set sail from Karachi to travel to Mumbai was traced back to Pakistan. The terrorists had hijacked an Indian trawler mid-way to land on Mumbai’s shores and the Pakistani trawler was sent back.

“The fishing trawler used by the terrorists for hijacking an Indian trawler in which they sailed to Mumbai, was brought back to harbour, then painted and concealed. It was recovered by the investigators and connected to the accused,” Khosa disclosed.

“The engine of the dinghy abandoned by the terrorists near Mumbai harbour contained a patent number through which the investigators traced its import from Japan to Lahore and then to a Karachi sports shop from where an LeT-linked militant purchased it along with the dinghy. The money trail was followed and linked to the accused who was arrested,” he went on to add.

The former FIA chief also admitted that the operations control room from where the terrorists were given instructions before and during the Mumbai attacks was set up in Karachi.

“The ops room in Karachi, from where the operation was directed, was also identified and secured by the investigators. The communications through Voice over Internet Protocol were unearthed.”

Talking about the arrests in the case, Khosa wrote, “The alleged commander and his deputies were identified and arrested… a couple of foreign-based financiers and facilitators were (also) arrested and brought to face trial.”

In his piece, Khosa calls on the Pakistani establishment to face the truth and admit mistakes.

“The entire state security apparatus must ensure that the perpetrators and masterminds of the ghastly terror attacks are brought to justice. The case has lingered on for far too long. Dilatory tactics by the defendants, frequent change of trial judges, and assassination of the case prosecutor as well as retracting from original testimony by some key witnesses have been serious setbacks for the prosecutors,” he wrote.

“Are we as a nation prepared to muster the courage to face uncomfortable truths and combat the demons of militancy that haunt our land?” Khosa asked, while concluding his piece.

Eleven killed in Thane building crash

Afternoon Voice

August 4, 2015

Eleven people were killed when a three-storey building came crashing down in Naupada in Thane city early Tuesday, an official said.

The 50-year old building, Krishna Nivas, crashed around 2.30 am in Naupada area when the residents were asleep.

“We were all sleeping. Suddenly, the floors started moving and before we could run to safety, the building came crashing down with a loud sound,” one of the survivors told mediapersons.

While five people have been rescued, six more are feared trapped under the debris. Efforts are underway to save them.

Seven women are among the dead. A majority of victims belong to the Bhatt and Sawant families.

Thane Collector Ashwini Joshi and Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde reached the site to supervise relief operations.

Rescuers worked quickly to help the injured.

A top Thane official said though the building was old, it was not dilapidated, adding the reasons for the collapse would be known only after a proper investigation.

This is the second major crash in the district in the past one week. On July 29, Matruchhaya Building collapsed, killing nine occupants and injuring five.

NCP executive president Jitendra Awhad expressed concern over the two collapses and demanded a scientific probe into how the building could just collapse without any warning.

Shinde said the only remedy to check collapse would be to speedily renovate all old and dilapidated buildings.

Pak singer Adnan Sami allowed to stay in India

Afternoon Voice

August 4, 2015

Pakistani singer Adnan Sami has been allowed to stay in India for an indefinite period following his appeal to legalise his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju conveyed to Lok Sabha that Sami has been exempted from deportation proceedings under Section 3 of the Foreigners Act.

This came after 46-year-old Sami has submitted a representation to the Home Ministry on May 26, 2015 requesting his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.

The representation submitted by Sami, a Pakistani national, has been considered carefully by the Home Ministry.

“Now, therefore, in pursuance of the powers conferred under section 3A of Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946), the central government being of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient in public interest to do so, hereby declared that provisions of clauses (c) and (e) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Foreigners Act 1946 and paragraph 11 of the Foreigners Order, 1948 shall not apply to the said Mr Adnan Sami Khan, son of late Arshad Sami Khan and he is exempted from deportation proceedings. This order shall remain valid untill further orders are issued on the subject,” the Home Ministry order said.

Lahore-born Sami had first arrived in India on March 13, 2001 on a visitor’s visa with the validity of one year which was issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

His visa was extended from time to time. His Pakistani passport issued on May 27, 2010 expired on May 26, 2015 and his passport was not renewed by the Pakistan government which forced him to approach the Indian government with the request to legalise his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.

Sami’s two songs from the album, ‘Kabhi To Nazar Milao’ and ‘Lift Karaa De’ whose music video starred the popular Indian actor Govinda, were a sensation in early 2000s.

Man commits suicide inside police station in Mankhurd

Afternoon Voice

August 4, 2015

A 29-year-old man allegedly committed suicide inside the Mankhurd police station, police said.

Deepak Jadhav hanged himself to a ceiling fan of a room on the second floor of the building which houses the police station.

“Jadhav had tied his neck with the trouser of a police officer’s uniform,” senior inspector of Mankhurd police station Nasir Shaikh said.

According to police, at 7.30 AM, Jadhav and Mohammad Naim (27) were brought to the police station as they were fighting with each other.

At this time sub-inspector Rajendra Londhe was on duty.

After preliminary inquiry, at around 8 AM, Jadhav was let off by Londhe after giving a warning, an official at the police station said.

However, the incident came to light at around 10.45 AM, when another police officer, Sub-inspector Swapnil Chintal, who had gone to wear his uniform in the room, found Jadhav hanging, he added.

The Mumbai Police has handed over the case to crime branch.

“Considering the mysterious suicide, the crime branch is probing the case,” said DCP (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni.

Maggi returns? Government lab finds noodles sample safe

Afternoon Voice

August 4, 2015

In a major boost to Nestle India, FSSAI-approved laboratory of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) has found Maggi noodles to be in compliance with the country’s food safety standards.

CFTRI had tested five samples sent by Goa Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when Maggi was banned in June in the wake of findings in Uttar Pradesh and other states that the instant noodles brand had lead levels beyond permissible limits.

“CFTRI finding shows that samples are in compliance with the food safety standards as per the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011,” Goa FDA Director Salim A Veljee said.

Goa FDA had sent the Maggi noodles samples to Mysore-based CFTRI for retesting of the safety of instant noodles after FSSAI expressed apprehensions on state FDA’s initial report, which had found lead within permissible limits.

In June, 2015, Nestle had to take Maggi off the shelves, after few states decided to ban the noodles. FSSAI had also banned Maggi instant noodles terming them “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption.

FSSAI had also said that Nestle violated labelling regulations on taste enhancer ‘MSG’ and ordered company to submit compliance report on its orders.

Meanwhile, Nestle India’s new chief Suresh Narayanan had said that bringing the instant noodles brand back to the market is his top priority as he sought to strike a conciliatory note with authorities.

Congress lead protest, BJP says party ruled by ‘maa-beta’ has no democracy in its DNA

Afternoon Voice

August 4, 2015

Leading the assault from the front, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi, sat on a dharna in the Parliament House complex, shouted slogans and declared that the campaign for resignation of BJP leaders will continue even if all its members are “thrown out of Parliament”.

“Suspension of our MPs is anti-democratic. Democracy is being murdered,” said Sonia, as she, in a rare occurrence, raised slogans along with top party leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, AK Antony and Anand Sharma against the Speaker’s decision. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present.

“We will not budge from our stand and there will be no let up in our pressure (on government) as far as issues of corruption, Sushma Swaraj and Vyapam are concerned,” Rahul told reporters, making clear the party’s intent to carry on with its belligerent posture on the issue of resignations of top BJP leaders accused of wrongdoing.

“Vyapam scam has destroyed future of 1000s in MP. There is clear evidence that Sushmaji has broken the law. Clear evidence that Rajasthan CM (Vasundhara Raje) directly involved financially with Lalit Modi,” he said.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s on the issue, the Congress leader took a swipe at him, saying though he made his voice heard through his radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’, he was not prepared to listen to the “voice of the country”.

The government on Tuesday hit back at the Congress after party president Sonia Gandhi called the suspension of 25 MPs from the Lok Sabha “murder of democracy”. Lashing out at the Congress, the government said that there was no democracy in the DNA of the Opposition party which is ruled by “maa-beta” (mother-son).

Union minister Prakash Javadekar also blamed the Congress chief and party’s vice-president Rahul Gandhi for the disruption of Monsoon Session of Parliament and alleged that the Opposition party was driven by “ineptitude” and its “jealousy” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “successes”.

Addressing mediapersons, Javadekar said that PM Modi would speak in Parliament if the Opposition allows its work and cited several instances of the government making efforts to break the impasse. He claimed that the treasury benches were “reaching out” but Congress was “backing out”.

“Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are squarely responsible for the logjam. The Speaker’s decision to suspend 25 members is right,” said Javadekar, as he cited the use of marshals in the House to remove eight Samajwadi Party members, who were protesting against the Women Reservation Bill, and other instances during the Congress governments to hit out at the party.

“I am surprised that Congress is talking about democracy. The whole party is undemocratic. To see it use the language of democracy is like satan reading the Bible. There is no democracy in its DNA. Even today mother is the party president and son is its vice-president,” Javadekar said. The Congress should believe in parliamentary democracy, he said and asked the Opposition party to shun its “bravado” and start debates in Parliament.

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