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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaKangana Ranaut, actor and BJP election candidate, denies eating beefPublished2 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A row surrounding Kangana Ranaut comes as the outspoken actor seeks to make her move into elected politicsBy Sean SeddonBBC NewsAn Indian actor running for election as a candidate for the ruling party has been forced to deny eating beef.Kangana Ranaut, a vocal supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the claims by her opponents are “shameful” and “baseless rumours”.The issue of beef consumption is highly sensitive in India as cows are considered sacred by Hindus, the country’s largest religious group.Some BJP politicians have pushed for bans on cattle slaughter.Ranaut, an award-winning Bollywood star who has featured in some of India’s highest grossing films, responded after an opposition politician claimed she had previously eaten beef.Several social media users shared screengrabs of what they said were old posts from Ranaut’s account as supposed proof of that claim.India elections 2024: Vote to be held in seven stagesThe allegation is potentially damaging for the actor, who is seeking to make her formal entrance into politics in the coming weeks as a BJP candidate in northern Himachal Pradesh state.Writing on X, formerly Twitter, she said: “I don’t consume beef or any other kind of red meat, it is shameful that completely baseless rumours are being spread about me, I have been advocating and promoting yogic and Ayurvedic way of life for decades now such tactics won’t work to tarnish my image. “My people know me and they know that I am a proud Hindu and nothing can ever mislead them.”Renaut, 37, signed off her post with the phrase “Jai Shri Ram”, a proclamation of the Hindu faith.Image source, EPAImage caption, The BJP are expected to perform strongly in India’s upcoming elections, which will be held in seven stages over April and MayCattle production and consumption in India is a highly contentious issue and has led to violence from so-called cow protection vigilante groups, primarily against members of the country’s Muslim minority. Despite widespread local restrictions on the industry, India is one of the world’s largest beef producers, due primarily to its water buffalo market – a species which is exempt from many of the bans.The BJP’s previous attempt to implement a nationwide ban on cattle slaughter was overturned by India’s highest court in 2017. Several BJP-ruled states have banned the sale and consumption of beef.The party – which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and draws its support from the country’s Hindu population – is on course to perform strongly in the upcoming elections.Ranaut is no stranger to controversy. In 2020, at the height of her fame in Hindi cinema, she made a series of serious allegations against people in the industry.In 2021, her account on what was then Twitter was suspended for alleged incitement to violence after she urged Mr Modi to “tame” an opposition leader.Related TopicsBollywoodKangana RanautIndiaMore on this storyThe wanted Indian cow vigilante who’s at large onlinePublished3 August 2023India and Pakistan trade barbs over targeted killingsPublished3 hours agoThe unprecedented booing of an Indian cricket starPublished4 days agoTop StoriesLive. ‘Hardly anything left’: Palestinians return to Khan Younis as troops leave cityGermany faces genocide case over Israel weapon salesPublished2 hours ago’The NHS paid for my mum to go private. She died’Published7 hours agoFeaturesBiggest WrestleMania yet? 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[ad_1] Writing on X, formerly Twitter, she said: “I don’t consume beef or any other kind of red meat, it is shameful that completely baseless rumours are being spread about…
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaKashmir: Asif Sultan, the journalist caught in ‘revolving door’ of arrestsPublished7 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Asif Sultan was first arrested in 2018 when he was working at a magazine called Kashmir NarratorOn 29 February, journalist Asif Sultan arrived at his home in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir after being held on remand in jail for more than 2,000 days. He barely spent five hours with his family before he was called to a local police station, where he was re-arrested.”We had no idea that he would be arrested again,” says Mohammad Sultan, his father. Asif Sultan, 36, was first arrested in August 2018 and charged under an anti-terror law called the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) which makes it extremely difficult to get bail. Police accused him of helping and sheltering anti-India militants, which he denies. His colleagues have alleged that he was targeted for writing an article in 2018 about Burhan Wani, a young militant leader whose death in a gun battle with government forces had sparked protests and deadly violence two years earlier.Militancy is a sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Kashmir, which has been a flashpoint between neighbours India and Pakistan for more than 75 years. Both countries claim the region in full but control only parts of it.Since 1989, an armed revolt has been waged against Indian rule in the region it controls, claiming tens of thousands of lives. India blames Pakistan for stirring the unrest by backing separatist militants in Kashmir – a charge Islamabad denies.For decades, journalists in Kashmir have had to tread carefully between the administration and militant groups while doing their jobs. But they say the federal government’s crackdown on press freedom has worsened since August 2019 – that’s when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s partial autonomy and divided the state into two federally-administered territories.’Any story could be your last’ – India’s crackdown on Kashmir pressThe Kashmir journalists ‘harassed’ over their jobSince the repeal of the state’s special status in 2019, at least five journalists have been charged under the UAPA. Three others have been detained under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), which allows detention without charge for up to two years. Some, like Mr Sultan, have been charged and detained under both. Activists say police use a tactic known as “revolving door arrests”, whereby people granted bail in one case are promptly re-arrested under another, effectively prolonging their detention.The BBC contacted police officials in Kashmir by email but they have yet to respond to our questions about why Asif Sultan was re-arrested, why other journalists have been detained or to allegations that the authorities are cracking down on media freedoms in the region.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A 2018 protest by journalists in Kashmir against Mr Sultan’s arrestMr Sultan was in a Srinagar prison from August 2018 until April 2022, when a court granted him bail – in that case, the police’s key witness against him had refused to identify him as an accused before the court. But before he could be released, police detained him under the PSA, describing him as a “threat to peace”.He was then transferred to a jail in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, around 1,500km (932 miles) from his home. In December 2023, a court in Srinagar quashed the detention under the PSA and ordered the authorities to release him. Despite that, it took 78 days to release him – prison authorities told online portal Newslaundry that the delay was because they had to get “clearance letters” from authorities in Kashmir.Mr Sultan had just about reached home on 29 February when he was picked up again – this time, his lawyer says, a case had been filed against him under the UAPA related to an incident of rioting that took place in Srinagar’s Central Jail in 2019, when prisoners allegedly ransacked the barracks after an argument with prison staff.”There were around 600 prisoners and he [Mr Sultan] wasn’t in the barrack which was allegedly set on fire by some inmates,” says his lawyer, Adil Abdullah Pandit, adding that they would file a bail plea soon.Asif Sultan is not the only local journalist currently jailed after being caught in the “revolving door” of arrests.Sajad Gul was arrested in January 2022, on charges of “criminal conspiracy” and granted bail after nine days – but he was then detained under the PSA and transferred to a jail in Jammu, 300km from his home. Despite a local court ordering him to be freed last November, he remains in police custody. Kunal Majumder, India representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists, says that the pattern of targeting journalists in Kashmir with multiple cases sends a “concerning signal” about the government’s stance on press freedom. “By repeatedly arresting journalists on various charges, often after they’ve been granted bail on previous ones, it suggests a systematic effort to intimidate and suppress critical voices,” he said.Even though they have been living in despair for years, Mr Sultan’s father says there is always “light at the end of the tunnel”.”There is nothing serious in the case. We are hopeful that we will see him again soon,” he said.Read more India stories from the BBC:Indian troops to exit Maldives as China gains footholdTight security in Kashmir for Modi pre-election tripIndia economy beats expectations with 8.4% growthIn pictures: Bollywood stars and billionaires at lavish partyIndia village in the eye of a political stormRelated TopicsAsiaIndiaKashmirMore on this storyAny story ‘could be your last’Published1 September 2023India minister assures justice after Kashmir deathsPublished28 December 2023Direct rule grew your economy, Modi tells KashmirPublished5 days agoTop StoriesBBC report into treatment of Gaza medics ‘very disturbing’ – CameronPublished2 hours agoGaza medics tell BBC that Israeli troops beat and humiliated themPublished13 hours agoPM says alleged comments about Abbott were racistPublished2 minutes agoFeaturesThe gangsters and rebels jostling over power in HaitiIs pressure on Kate after photo chaos unfair?The Ukrainian sea drones hunting Russian warshipsHow the miners’ strike changed the role of womenMeet the pop star who brought some cheek to the Brit AwardsWhat is TikTok and could the US ban it?’We don’t feel the joy of Ramadan in Rafah’ Video’We don’t feel the joy of Ramadan in Rafah’Schoolboy recounts daring escape from Nigerian kidnap gangWhen wind turbine blades get old what’s next?Elsewhere on the BBCThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayer’I was mad for stuff but I didn’t realise I wasn’t happy’Stuart Mitchell’s search for happiness will make us all question the true cost of livingAttributionSoundsMisled with the promise of a home…Panorama investigates the mobile home swindleAttributioniPlayerMost Read1The gangsters and rebels jostling over power in Haiti2Prince William attends Thomas Kingston’s funeral3Ashes and 35 bodies removed from funeral home4Badenoch calls donor’s alleged Abbott remark racist5Andrew Tate and brother can be extradited to UK6BBC report into Gaza medics ‘disturbing’ – Cameron7Ukraine-based groups claim raids into Russia8Hollywood stars lead the way at Olivier nominations9Tate unveils counterpoint to offensive mural10Baptisms ‘a ticket’ for some asylum seekers – vicar](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/135A2/production/_132866297_gettyimages-1030269168.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaDivya Deshmukh: India chess player’s Instagram post sparks sexism discussionPublished40 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Tata Steel ChessImage caption, Divya Deshmukh’s Instagram post has sparked a discussion on sexism in chessBy Cherylann MollanBBC News, MumbaiAn 18-year-old Indian chess player has sparked a conversation on attitudes towards women in the sport with an Instagram post about her experiences.Divya Deshmukh, who is an International Master (the second-highest title in chess), said that her chess videos often received online comments that focused on her appearance rather than her games. “It’s a sad truth that when women play chess, [people] often overlook how good they actually are… and every irrelevant thing is focused on,” she wrote, adding that she had wanted to address the issue “for a while”. Deshmukh shared the post at the end of the recent Tata Steel Chess tournament held in the Netherlands as she said that the behaviour of the audience had irked her throughout the competition. The organisers of the tournament later issued a statement supporting her and said that they “remain committed to promoting women in chess and ensuring a safe and equal sporting environment”.Sexism is still an under-discussed topic in chess, the only mainstream sport where men and women often compete against each other. Deshmukh’s post, experts say, has ignited a crucial conversation on the behaviour of fans and even male players towards women in chess – even Susan Polgar, the world’s first woman grandmaster, joined in.Deshmukh told the BBC that she has been receiving hateful comments related to the way she dresses, looks or speaks since she was 14 years old. “It makes me sad that people don’t pay the same kind of attention to my chess skills,” she said.Thousands of people have liked her post, and many have left supportive comments. One Reddit user noted how even seemingly innocuous jokes and comments were often “laced with sexist attitudes” while another said that it was common for people to leave sexually suggestive remarks under videos featuring women players.The Indian siblings taking the chess world by stormIndia chess prodigy’s ‘remarkable’ impact on the sport”With an increase in online tournaments and with games being livestreamed, women players have become disproportionately vulnerable to receiving misogynistic comments from the predominantly male audience online,” says sports writer Susan Ninan, who has written extensively about chess.She adds that such trolling deepens sexist attitudes about chess and can impact the confidence of young women players. As a sport, chess already has a poor gender balance. According to the International Chess Federation or FIDE, women make up just 10% of licenced players globally, and the gap only gets wider at the top. For example, only three of India’s 84 grandmasters are women. Chess experts and women players have ascribed this imbalance to the lack of access, opportunity and support for women and girls due to stereotypes surrounding the sport.”There’s this common misconception that men are ‘wired differently’ and are hence, inherently better at chess,” says Ms Ninan, adding that such beliefs are amplified online, feeding into existing socio-cultural biases people have about women and their intellectual abilities.Image source, Arman KarakhanyanImage caption, Koneru Humpy is one of India’s top chess playersIn a study conducted by researchers at New York University for which around 300 parents and mentors – 90% of these were men – were interviewed, it was found that a majority of the respondents believed that girls have a lower potential in the sport than boys and that they were more likely to stop playing chess due to a lack of ability than their male counterparts.Nandhini Saripalli, a chess player and coach, says she has experienced first-hand the consequences of such biases. She says that her chess career took a hit because she didn’t get enough support compared with her male counterparts. And now, she says that her career as a coach is being hampered because society doesn’t have much confidence in a woman’s chess-playing ability. “Parents want their children to be mentored by a male coach because they feel that male players are more talented,” she says.Observers also say that online trolling feeds into the culture of women players and tournaments not being taken seriously.Saripalli says that online, she has had men telling her that her male opponent can “trash” her easily, while offline, she has encountered male players who’ve said that they don’t feel the need to practise if their opponent is a woman because they don’t consider female players to be “real competition”.”Women have to work twice as hard to prove themselves, and even then you can’t escape sexist judgements,” she says, adding that like many of her female chess-playing friends, she too “dresses down” to escape unwanted attention from male players and the audience. Image source, Nandhini SaripalliImage caption, Nandhini Saripalli says she feels she was held back as a player because of her genderInterestingly, this is something Polgar – who is widely regarded to be among the best chess players in the world – says she experienced decades ago when she was a young chess player.Polgar responded to Ms Deshmukh’s post by sharing her own experience on X (formerly Twitter). “I did not even touch make-up until I was in my 20s… It is because I was tired of being sexually harassed/assaulted and hit on constantly by male chess players,” she wrote.Ms Ninan says that chess offers a “fertile space for predatory behaviour” because of its one-on-one setting and the fact that players are just a chess board away from their opponent.But Koneru Humpy, one of India’s top chess players who started her career in the 1990s when there were few women in chess, and stunned the world by becoming the then-youngest female Grandmaster at the age of 15 (this record was broken later), says that there is more equality now compared with when she began playing. Humpy recalls being the only female player to compete in open tournaments – she says these are much tougher to win than women’s-only tournaments because the players are more skilled on average. “Men wouldn’t like losing to me because I’m a woman,” she says and adds that today’s crop of male players are different as they regularly train and play against their female peers. But it will take more time for women players to wield the same amount of influence on and off the chess board as their male counterparts. One way to alter this power imbalance is to remove socio-cultural barriers that prevent women’s participation in chess at the entry level.”Once there are more female players, there will be more of them in the top levels of the sport,” says Humpy, adding that this will change prevailing perceptions.The other way to encourage more women to play chess is by increasing the number of women-only tournaments. “The more women play chess, the more claim they have over the sport,” she adds. Read more India stories from the BBC:Want to live together? Indian state says only if we agreeChinese ship’s port call fans India tensionsFake death of India actress sparks ethics debateOpposition challenge to Modi may be implodingComedian’s journey from jail to reality TV stardomRelated TopicsAsiaChessIndiaMore on this storyThe Indian siblings taking the chess world by stormPublished1 December 2023India chess prodigy’s ‘remarkable’ impact on the sportPublished25 August 2023Top StoriesLabour ditches £28bn green investment pledgePublished1 hour agoNetanyahu rejects Hamas’s proposed ceasefire termsPublished2 hours agoWilliam thanks public for messages of support for King and KatePublished4 minutes agoFeaturesWeather data casts doubt on government’s small boats claim’People will keep dying’: Fentanyl crisis grips Mexico’s border citiesWe don’t watch from the sidelines like Taylor SwiftWatch on iPlayer: I believed conspiracies about mass shooting I survived. 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