Feature
Aamir criticised over ‘intolerance’ comment in ‘Incredible’ India
Mumbai: Criticising Bollywood actor-producer Aamir Khan for his views on ‘rising intolerance’ in the country, film fraternity members Anupam Kher, Ram Gopal Varma and Ashoke Pandit have said as a widely followed superstar, he must spread hope and not fear.
The celebrities took to Twitter to share their opinion on Aamir’s statement that his wife and filmmaker Kiran Rao feared for their son’s safety and that she once asked if they should leave India.
Anupam, who earlier this month, led a march to protest against a section of artistes who had been returning their awards over ‘intolerance’ in the country, questioned Aamir if he had asked Kiran “which country would she like to move out to”.
“Did you tell her that this country has made you Aamir Khan,” the veteran actor, who has worked with Aamir in films like “Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin”, “Dil” and “Rang De Basanti”, tweeted.
He added: “Dear @aamir_khan. Did you tell Kiran that you have lived through more worse times in this country and but you never thought of moving out… When did ‘Incredible India’ become ‘Intolerant India’ for you? Only in the last seven to eight months? #AtithiDevoBhavah.”
Aamir, in 2008, was appointed to endorse the Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India campaign.
Thus, Anupam also questioned Aamir that “presumed (the) country has become intolerant, what do you suggest to millions of Indians? Leave India? Or wait till regime changes?”
He also asked the “Satyamev Jayate” host that while on the show, “you talked about evil practices, but gave hope. So even in ‘Intolerant’ times you need to spread hope not fear”.
Even Ram Gopal Varma came forward to question that when “Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman — the three biggest stars of the Hindu country India are Muslims, I don’t understand where intolerance is?”
“In a predominantly Hindu country, if three Muslims can become the biggest iconic superstars, that itself proves the majority aren’t intolerant. Some celebs complaining about intolerance should be the last ones to complain because they became celebs in a so-called intolerant country,” he added.
While stressing that “isolated incidents can’t be taken as sign of intolerance”, Varma also mentioned that “it’s the celebs’ need for creating drawing room debates to increase their popularity which flares up non existent negativity between communities.”
Veteran actor Paresh Rawal, who starred in “OMG: Oh My God!” which questioned the existence of blind faith in godmen — much like Aamir’s blockbuster “PK” — commented: “‘PK’ did rattle the belief of Hindus, but Aamir didn’t face the wrath of Hindu or THE MAJORITY… but was superhit and made crores.”
Censor board chief Ashoke Pandit made a sarcastic remark, saying: “Now that @aamir_khan also feels we are an #IntolerantNation. Let us now go all out and prove once for all that we are really intolerant.
“Kiran Rao led MAMI (film festival) where India and Indian cinema were celebrated. @aamir_khan is himself a superstar loved and celebrated pan-India. Where is the intolerance?”
There was few names who supported Aamir — music composer Vishal Dadlani of the Vishal-Shekhar duo, and filmmaker Sanjay Gupta.
He said: “More power to your voice, @aamir_khan Sir! This is OUR country, it belongs to ALL Indians. Not to rabid lunatics from any party/religion. Thanks to Aamir Sir, for speaking against intolerance! Proud to see the giants of film, use their voices for India.”
Gupta brought the focus to Aamir’s full statement, which the latter made at an awards event in the capital on Monday.
“‘That was a disastrous statement for Kiran to make.’ Aamir Khan’s next line after saying that Kiran wants to leave. Hear the full interview. Those accusing Aamir Khan of being intolerant, please have the tolerance to watch the whole interview. Nowhere does he say he wants to leave India.”
The State Scores Extra High on Gaming-Friendly Industry Index
Meghalaya scored 92.85 out of 100 possible points in a Gaming Industry Index and proved to be India’s most gaming-friendly state following its recent profound legislation changes over the field allowing land-based and online gaming, including games of chance, under a licensing regime.
The index by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) uses a scale of 0 to 100 to measure the level of legalisation on gambling and betting achieved by a state based on the scores over a set of seven different games – lottery, horse racing, betting on sports, poker, rummy, casino and fantasy sports
Starting from February last year, Meghalaya became the third state in India’s northeast to legalise gambling and betting after Sikkim and Nagaland. After consultations with the UKIBC, the state proceeded with the adoption of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 and the nullification of the Meghalaya Prevention of Gambling Act, 1970. Subsequently in December, the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021 were notified and came into force.
All for the Tourists
The move to legalise and license various forms of offline and online betting and gambling in Meghalaya is aimed at boosting tourism and creating jobs, and altogether raising taxation revenues for the northeastern state. At the same time, the opportunities to bet and gamble legally will be reserved only for tourists and visitors.
“We came out with a Gaming Act and subsequently framed the Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021. The government will accordingly issue licenses to operate games of skill and chance, both online and offline,” said James P. K. Sangma, Meghalaya State Law and Taxation Minister speaking in the capital city of Shillong. “But the legalized gambling and gaming will only be for tourists and not residents of Meghalaya,” he continued.
To be allowed to play, tourists and people visiting the state for work or business purposes will have to prove their non-resident status by presenting appropriate documents, in a process similar to a bank KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure.
Meghalaya Reaches Out to a Vast Market
With 140 millions of people in India estimated to bet regularly on sports, and a total of 370 million desi bettors around prominent sporting events, as per data from one of the latest reports by Esse N Videri, Meghalaya is set to reach out and take a piece of a vast market.
Estimates on the financial value of India’s sports betting market, combined across all types of offline channels and online sports and cricket predictions and betting platforms, speak about amounts between $130 and $150 billion (roughly between ₹9.7 and ₹11.5 lakh crore).
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi are shown to deliver the highest number of bettors and Meghalaya can count on substantial tourists flow from their betting circles. The sports betting communities of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also not to be underestimated.
Among the sports, cricket is most popular, registering 68 percent of the total bet count analyzed by Esse N Videri. Football takes second position with 11 percent of the bets, followed by betting on FIFA at 7 percent and on eCricket at 5 percent. The last position in the Top 5 of popular sports for betting in India is taken by tennis with 3 percent of the bet count.
Local Citizens will Still have Their Teer Betting
Meghalaya residents will still be permitted to participate in teer betting over arrow-shooting results. Teer is a traditional method of gambling, somewhat similar to a lottery draw, and held under the rules of the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018.
Teer includes bettors wagering on the number of arrows that reach the target which is placed about 50 meters away from a team of 20 archers positioned in a semicircle.
The archers shoot volleys of arrows at the target for ten minutes, and players place their bets choosing a number between 0 and 99 trying to guess the last two digits of the number of arrows that successfully pierce the target.
If, for example, the number of hits is 256, anyone who has bet on 56 wins an amount eight times bigger than their wager.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
