The Reserve Bank of India has turned down a Right To Information query about the meetings leading up to demonetisation, saying that this would involve disclosing "sensitive information".

Rakesh Dubbudu of the data and transparency portal Fact.ly filed an RTI application with the RBI on November 16. He asked for a "list of meetings held with any department of Government of India or any other Government entity before the decision [on withdrawal of legal tender status of existing Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes] was arrived at".

In its reply, the RBI says: "The information relates to sensitive matters pertaining to discontinuation/ withdrawal of banknotes. The information is exempt from disclosure under section 8(1){a} of RTI Act, 2005." That section of the RTI Act relates to "information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence".

Using the same exemption clause, the RBI also refused to give Dubbudu minutes of meetings held before the decision on demonetisation or copies of communication between the RBI and the Government of India about demonetisation.

"The decision is done. How can it be senisitive?" Dubbudu asked. "Does this mean it will expose their underpreparedeness?"

Even if you take pride in being an unsung Adonis in bed, a little refresher course never hurt anybody. For the rest, read this like your life depends on acing this.

She's probably faking it if...

If she's seeing shooting stars from the get-go, it's probably not for real. On an average, women need about 20 minutes of foreplay to be aroused enough to come. You may be good, but it's unlikely you're that good.

If you have to ask, no she didn't.

If you've made a woman come, you'll know. We're so possessive of our orgasms that if a stray one ambles our way, we clutch it with such ferocity, one might need the Jaws of Life to pry it loose. An honest to goodness orgasm will make a woman's toes curl and leave her shuddering like a freight train. You will know.

Vibrators were invented before the iron

19^th century Britain was so concerned about its unfulfilled women (over 75% of the female population) that the century saw several rudimentary inventions that resemble the modern-day vibrator. The world's first electro-mechanical vibrator was patented in the 1880s in London, a whole decade before everyday appliances such as the electric iron and vacuum cleaner!

There is no delicate way to say this--there are three holes

One to pee (urethra), one to shit (anus) and one for sex and delivering a baby (vagina). No, you don't HAVE to plug all three to satisfy her. Just ask, if you're confused.

Vaginas need to be used to stay in good shape.

Just like one must do those dreadful planks to keep the abs taut, vaginas need energetic, enthusiastic sex to look good. So now you know who needs to step up their game if ever her vagina isn't looking as firm as before. (Psst, it's you)

A clitoris is not a button.

It's not something you press so you can hear loud, sexy moans on a loop. It's actually almost as big as a flaccid penis—about 4 inches, it's just that almost two thirds of it is hidden from view. Plus it grows as we age. And it's only function to give a woman pleasure, with almost 8,000 nerve endings that are primed to explode if you know how to give head. Which means there's that much potential for giving her pleasure. Use it wisely, willya?

The clitoris grows!

It can become almost two and a half times its original size around the time of menopause. So let the noise of a screaming orgasm drown out all the nonsense you've heard about women losing interest or not wanting sex after menopause.

The clitoris is made of the same tissue as the penis.

All babies start out with the same genital tissue; it's only later, at about 12 weeks, that the chromosomes determine whether it will turn into a penis or clitoris. Now you understand why the clitoris is so important to a woman's sexual fulfillment?

Nipple orgasm is an actual thing!

Simply fondling the nipples can actually make women orgasm. It activates the same parts of the brain that are stimulated during genital foreplay. So don't just stare at them, work them into a frenzy.

Orgasms are like temporary aspirins.

The oxytocin—or the happy hormones—released during an orgasm can relieve all kinds of aches and pains. While the effect may last only for a few minutes, it's still something. Makes you consider the whole, "not tonight darling, I have a headache" in a wholly different light, no?

PS: Obviously, not all the things mentioned above are true for all women, uniformly.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan has said it would not accept any modifications or changes in the Indus Waters Treaty after India strongly pitched for bilateral redressal of differences with it while implementing the 56-year-old accord.

"Pakistan will not accept any modifications or changes to the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Our position is based on the principles enshrined in the treaty. And the treaty must be honoured in...letter and spirit," Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi told Dawn News.

His remarks came after India strongly pitched for bilateral redressal of differences with Pakistan while implementing the Indus Waters Treaty.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said on Thursday that given the will, there is no reason why the technical design parameters on which Pakistan has raised objections cannot be sorted out by experts from both sides on projects like Kishenganga.

India believes that these consultations should be given adequate time, Swarup had said.

However, Dawn reported that India's request for more time alarmed Pakistan.

"Islamabad argued that India used the same strategy on previous occasions, completing a project during the dispute and then insisting that since the project was already complete, it could not be modified," the report said.

The treaty, signed in 1960, gives India control over the three eastern rivers of the Indus basin -- the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej -- while Pakistan has the three western rivers -- the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

The IWT also sets up a mechanism, the Permanent Indus Commission, which includes a commissioner from each country.

The current dispute revolves around the Kishenganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric plants.

India is building the plants on the Kishanganga and Chenab rivers, which Pakistan claims violates the IWT.

Tensions over the water dispute increased late last month when Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to block the flow of waters into Pakistan, the daily said.

Both sides had already completed the process proposed in the IWT and approached the World Bank only after the commission declared it "a dispute" as required, experts were quoted as saying.

"Dragging it through an already exhausted process will not help," an expert said.

"Pakistan was seeking a court of arbitration because only the proposed court had the authority to consider both legal and technical aspects of the dispute. A neutral expert could only consider the technical aspects," the daily said.

Pakistan argues that the designs of the two Indian projects violate both legal and technical provisions of the treaty. India, however, has opposed Pakistan's efforts for setting up a court of arbitration.

Earlier this week, the World Bank announced pausing of the two separate processes initiated under the IWT to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements.

Also on HuffPost India:

NEW DELHI -- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday hinted that not all of the ₹15.44 lakh crore worth of currency junked will be remonetised through issuance of new notes as he said digital currency will fill the gap.

Calling the scrapping of old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes as "a courageous step", he said the government could do it as India today has the capacity to take such decisions and experiment boldly.

#Remonetisation will not take very long time, RBI will be able to complete it very soon: @arunjaitley. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/LrOgGe88Yl

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 17, 2016

The move will create a new Indian normal as the one that existed for the past seven decades is "unacceptable", he said, adding that demonetisation will help rid the economy of high cash circulation that had led to tax evasion, black money and currency being used for crime.

"One of the efforts of this exercise has to be that even though a reduced cash currency could remain, our conscious effort... (is) to supplement the rest with a digital currency," he said while addressing annual general meeting of industry chamber FICCI here.

As many as 17,165 million pieces of ₹500 denomination and 6,858 million pieces of ₹1,000 banknotes were in circulation on 8 November when the government made the surprise announcement.

No official estimation of #blackmoney either before or after November 8 when #demonetisation was announced: @arunjaitley pic.twitter.com/RHIY1MEtsX

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 16, 2016

Jaitley further said: "The whole process of remonetisation is not going to take very long time and I'm sure very soon the Reserve Bank by injecting currency daily into the banking and postal system will be able to complete that."

Also, the push to use the digital mode to make payments has been gaining ground. "The manner it has taken place in the last five weeks is indeed commendable. Only a section of Parliament seems unaware of what is happening," he said.

Once the remonetisation process is complete, it will mark "the creation of a new Indian normal because the normal that existed for 70 years is an unacceptable normal," he added.

India has capacity to take decision on #demonetisation; it's no longer a fragile economy: #FinanceMinister @arunjaitley.

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 17, 2016

"The 70-year normal had become a way of life for almost every Indian. It was not merely a fact that you had a lot more cash currency, far larger cash currency as part of your GDP...the economic and social consequences of that are extremely adverse."

He made a point that dealing in that cash currency had led to a lot of aberrations in terms of tax non-compliance, currency being used for collateral purposes like crime, escaping the tax net and not getting into the banking system.

The government took "a somewhat courageous step" of withdrawing high demonetisation currency and went in for a large currency swap.

"The fact that India today has the capacity to take these decisions and capacity to enforce them, to experiment boldly even when at a time when the world is looking more inwards, marks an exception as far as India is concerned," the finance minister asserted.

Jaitley also spoke of the country's "stamina" to sustain a decision like demonetisation, which has "clear long-term gains even at the cost of short-term inconveniences".

"Therefore, once we have that stamina notwithstanding fringe positions taken by national parties, one would always be able to implement these extremely successfully. Long-term benefits of these are going to be absolutely clear even if we bear the short-term pains," he said.

He seemed confident that the existing almost 75 crore debit and credit cards in the market, besides e-wallets, will help increase digital transactions. He also made a pitch that these transformations will have to be carried to their logical conclusion.

"There are, of course, even as we reform, domestic trends which are being visible on digitization of payments," Jaitley said, adding that the government has clarity of direction as well as a broad shoulder and stamina to sustain these decisions.

Also on HuffPost India:

NEW DELHI -- She may come from a family of Bollywood stars but Shweta Bachchan Nanda says she would be worried if her daughter Navya Naveli plans to be an actor.

Shweta's father Amitabh Bachchan continues to be a mega star in Bollywood at the age 74 while her mother Jaya, brother Abhishek and sister-in-law Aishwarya Rai are prominent names in the industry.

"I will be worried if if she plans to be an actor. I don't think it is as easy as it looks. You have to work extremely hard, especially if you are a woman. And I wonder if she has in her to bear with all of it.

"Also, there is a lot of failure involved, which many people don't see. The failure is personal, your acting skills... the way you look on screen is slashed out in open," Shweta said.

Navya has been under the spotlight recently, with her pictures doing the rounds on social media.

According to Shweta, the right way to become an actor is to "want and rightly prepare" for it like her mother, not "stumble" into it like her father.

"My mother was the eldest daughter in the family. She graduated and told his father about her ambition of becoming an actor. Soon she joined acting school, and was a great student.

"I feel this is the way to go about it. Not because you see this as an easy way out. Instant fame and money in this industry is a myth," she said at the launch of "Standing on the Apple Box" by Aishwarya R Dhanush, daughter of superstar Rajinikanth.

She has also written the foreword for the book.

Shwetha likes to maintain a low profile, and is extremely protective about her daughter despite the constant spotlight.

The 42-year-old mother of two recently wrote an open letter asking media to give her daughter her "private life" back.

"My children are no celebrities. Why smash them on internet for one reason or the other? Let them earn their attention on their own. It shouldn't be just because they are related to somebody," she said.

To prevent news flashes about Navya from reaching her, the Bachchans do not have any Google alert for her.

"We have no Google alert for her, because it would be very upsetting for her to read these things. I didn't do anything for two years; thinking that it would only draw more attention towards it," she said.

Shweta said the decision to keep her away from the attention is not driven by any gender bias as she would be equally protective of her son.

Calling her family a "home of women" who are strong-headed and independent, Shweta said that everyone was free to to pursue their own dreams and hopes Navya does the same.

"My home is a home of women. Be it my grand-mother, mother, sister-in-law and me, we all are strong opinionated women. I am sure she will carry it forward," she says.

Also on HuffPost India:

The 60th National Shooting Championships in Pune witnessed a shocking altercation and scuffle between two participants. A national level shooter hit Olympian Sanjeev Rajput, who according to Mumbai Mirror, 'fled' the spot soon after. He also skipped participating in the 10 metre air rifle final.

According to Mumbai Mirror, the shooter had filed a rape complaint against Rajput in Delhi, earlier this month. Mirror reports: "The local police had to be called in, but Rajput managed to slip out in the melee and later went untraceable and switched off his phone. He missed his 10m Air Rifle final scheduled for 10.30 am. Rajput, an Arjuna awardee, was booked on rape charges following a complaint by victim at Delhi's Chanakyapuri police station on December 4."

Rajput and the shooter were in a relationship in the past. Rajput had allegedly promised to marry her but later failed to honour his promise.

The shooter has now filed a new complaint in Pune.

Various versions of the event are doing the rounds. While some witnesses have said that the shooter jumped on Rajput the moment he entered the stadium, others say that the latter taunted her, following which she lost her cool.

Read the complete Mumbai Mirror story here.

JHARKHAND -- A newly married woman was allegedly raped by her husband and his two friends at gun point at Rahaiya village in Palamau district, a police officer said on Friday.

The accused, Afzal Ansari, had recently got married to the woman of the same village, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hiralal Ravi said.

According to an FIR registered on the basis of the statement given by the victim, Ansari reached home along with his two friends - Bablu Singh and Afzal Mian - on Wednesday night.

He then raped his wife and allowed his friends to commit the heinous crime in turn, police said, adding that the accused also recorded the act and threatened the woman with dire consequences.

The victim, however, managed to escape the next morning and informed her parents, who took her to the police station. But the Officer-in-Charge reprimanded them and sent them back without registering a case, Ravi said.

The DSP said he has directed to register a case against the accused, who were reported at large.

Also on HuffPost India:

NEW DELHI -- Ex Air Force Chief S.P. Tyagi along with other accused in the AgustaWestland chopper case were sent to judicial custody till 30 December.

#AgustaWestland: All 3 accused including SP Tyagi sent to judicial custody till Dec 30; All 3 file bail applications in Patiala House Court.

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 17, 2016

All the three accused had filed bail applications in the Patiala House Court.

The court will hear the bail matter on 21 December.

Earlier, the CBI had moved court seeking a 10-day custody to interrogate Tyagi and the other accused in the case.

Last Friday, the CBI had arrested Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev and lawyer Gautam Khaitan.

The ₹3,600-crore deal to supply 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland came under the scanner after Italian authorities claimed that the company paid bribes.

Tyagi has been accused of influencing the deal in favour of AgustaWestland during his tenure as the IAF chief, however, he has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The CBI said that they have received "incriminating documents" from Italy and Mauritius against the former IAF chief.

Also on HuffPost India:

SRINAGAR -- Three soldiers were killed after gunmen opened fire on an army convoy in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, the army said on Saturday.

According to security officials, militants fired incessantly at the vehicles carrying army men near the Kadlabal area of Pampore.

#FLASH 3 soldiers lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Pampore (J&K), search operation underway.

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 17, 2016

The militants then fled from the spot, but a massive search operation was underway. It was the second attack in Pampore this year.

Army convoys have been attacked several times along this stretch of the highway that connects Srinagar and Jammu and is used to carry supplies to the Srinagar-based 15 Corps that acts as nerve centre to battle militancy in the valley.

Also on HuffPost India:

The Halifax-based bhangra group that wowed us with their routine on Peggy's Cove is back.

This time, members of the Maritime Bhangra Group have another fantastic show from a different kind of Canadian landmark: a snowy parking lot.

Watch the routine in the video embedded above.

Click here to see more of the group's videos.

In an unusual move bound to generate political controversy and charges of interference, the government has superseded two generals to name Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat—currently the Vice Chief of Army Staff—as the 27th Chief of Indian Army.

It has also named Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa as the 22nd Chief of the India Air Force.

In naming General Rawat to the coveted post, the Modi government has set aside the long-established convention of appointing the senior most general as the Chief of Army Staff. In the last 70 years only thrice has seniority been ignored in the armed forces. In 1983, when General SN Sinha, then the senior-most General of the Indian Army, was overlooked in favour of General AS Vaidya. In 1998, Air Marshal SK Mehra was made air chief ignoring Air Marshal M M Singh. And in 2014, the UPA Government overlooked Admiral Sekhar Sinha, then Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command. He was the senior most officer when then Navy Chief Admiral D K Joshi put in is papers following string of accidents. R.K. Dhowan was named to the position.

According to top government officials who spoke to HuffPost India on the condition of anonymity, General Rawat was chosen because of his experience and expertise in two sensitive frontiers — counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the Line of Control, as well as the India- China border.

His pick will supersede two serving Generals — over Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi, currently the chief of the Eastern Army Command, and Lieutenant General PM Hariz, chief of the Southern Army Command.

General Rawat commanded the Dimpur-based III Corps and led the operations in Myanmar when Special Forces of Indian Army raided and destroyed terrorist camps after 18 soldiers of the Indian Army were killed in Manipur by Myanmar-based rebels. It is significant that that was a cross-border surgical strike, a tactic that has gained hugely in political importance subsequent to the surgical strike India carried out in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after militants stormed an army base killing 18 soldiers in Uri.

General Rawat is an infantry officer and was commissioned into the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles in December 1978. He was also awarded the coveted 'Sword of Honour' at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, which is awarded for the best all-round performance.

Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa commanded a fighter squadron during the 1999 Kargil conflict and flew numerous night strike missions which included providing air support to ground troops and destroying Pakistani supply dumps. He was commissioned in the IAF in June 1978 as a fighter pilot.

The government had earlier indicated that it might not follow the line of succession in key appointments. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that the government would go for merit rather than just seniority. Nonetheless, setting aside the long-standing convention is bound to raise eye-brows.

The Opposition will raise the issue of political interference in military appointments, Congress party source said. The military is one of India's famously apolitical institutions. There is a line of thinking that if service chiefs are made effectively to serve at the pleasure of governments, that will mar the apolitical character of the institution.

MATHURA -- A woman was booked for allegedly stealing a newborn baby girl from a hospital here on Saturday, police said.

The accused allegedly cheated the child's parents and fled with the three-day-old baby from Ram Krishna Mission hospital. However, the CCTV footage captured the crime," SP City Ashok Kumar said.

A case has been registered against the accused under IPC section 363 (kidnapping), he said.

"Three teams have been formed to recover the girl child and arrest the lady, whose identity has been recorded in the CCTV of the hospital," he said.

Also On HuffPost:

SURAT -- The Income Tax Department on Saturday raided the premises of city-based tea seller-turned-financier Kishore Bhaijyawala and seized cash worth approximately ₹400 crores, including cash, bullion, jewellery and property papers from his possession.

The IT search was on on Bhajiyawala's premises by the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized ₹30 lakh, of which ₹18 lakh were in new currency notes and 2.5 kg gold from the premises of a tailor in Mohali and Chandigarh.

(More details awaited.)

Also On HuffPost:

This is part 3 of a series on parenting styles. Part 1 is here and part 2 is here.

Remember the parent's role essayed by Anupam Kher in the movie DDLJ or the one by Kiran Kher in Hum Tum? Both of them are affectionate parents who guide their children through life. They do not lead their lives for them but are their pillars of strength. Such parents are able to bring out the best in their children. Children of such parents are confident, strong, and self-assured individuals. They are able to establish meaningful relationships in their lives.

Such parents are able to mix discipline and respect so that children have no ambiguity about how to behave.

Authoritative parents are democratic and believe that children should have a voice in what is happening in their lives. They listen to what their kids have to say. While encouraging independence, they set the limits and consequences for the actions of their children. While stating expectations for the children, these parents ensure that they don't pressurise them to perform. They motivate them so that they perform their best. These parents are warm and nurturing. They allow kids to have and express their opinions and may even allow the children to set their own rules, but will then insist that those rules be followed. They believe in administering fair and firm discipline. The emotional openness that these parents have with their kids makes it easier for children to be confident about themselves.

Such parents are able to mix discipline and respect so that children have no ambiguity about how to behave. When there is clarity of action and consequence, it's easier for children to make decisions and think on their feet. Supportive parenting styles help to foster the development of empathy in the child. Being an authoritative parent is simple.

Here are a few things that can help you to be one:

1. Praise positive behaviour

Parents usually tend to concentrate on how to remove negative behaviour from their children. Instead reinforce positive behaviour with appropriate praise and compliments. Acknowledge small tasks like setting the dining table, being handy around the house, or fixing a quick breakfast on a Sunday morning. Hand over a simple "Good Job!" and see the difference.

2. Listen before you talk

Remember all the classes you bunked at college to escape being lectured at? Your child too will run away from you if you fall into the habit of lecturing. Every good conversation starts with listening. Have conversations and not lecture sessions with your child. Understand what their issues are and then give advice or guidance.

3. Show you care

Kids need to be shown that you care about them. They crave acceptance. Talk to them. Listen to them, cuddle them, hug them, and pamper them, if needed. A little care and affection goes a long way.

4. Help kids to set their own goals

Keep the goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time bound). Tell them what you expect. Do not except them to understand because they are of a certain age. ("He is 7. He should know that he has to put his toys away.") How do we expect him to know when we haven't taught him? You should say, "Raj, I need you to put away your toys away in the next 10 minutes."

5. Stay calm

A calm parent raises a calm child. If you are nervous and jittery about everything, your child will imbibe the same attitude. Shouting, yelling and screaming won't help. Such behaviour only undermines the child's self-confidence and teaches him that it is okay to be violent.

6. Choose to discipline with love not punishment

As a democratic parent, give your child choices and the consequences for any course of action. Let your children learn by trial and error. Demanding a course of action and punishing them for non compliance may hurt them in the long run. They will never develop the confidence to choose between actions and bear the responsibility of its consequences.

7. Let them make their choice

If your daughter wants to skate without her safety helmet, tell her: 'It's not safe to skate without the helmet. You have a choice: you wear the helmet and have a safe evening or you do not wear it and we go back home to play cards which doesn't need a helmet.' Once you give her the choice and its consequence, your child will also understand the responsibility that comes along with it, and will slowly learn to make the right decisions.

8. Value your child's opinions and preferences

Sometimes the best ideas come from children but more often than not we are so caught up with our own lives that we don't listen to them. Discuss colours with them when you are getting your house painted. You will have a really bright house if you listen to them. Ask your children to plan out a healthy menu for the week. Children love variety and they will ensure that you have a good menu planned.

9. Remind them that they are loved

"I love you"—these three magical words are the cement of any relationship. No child ever tires of hearing that he is loved by his parents. Many Indian parents do not express this emotion. It is almost taken for granted.

10. Modify the way you speak to encourage your child

Remember that your children will rise or fail to meet your expectations for them. If you express scepticism and doubt, they will return your lack of confidence with mediocrity. But if you believe in them and expect them to do well, they will go the extra mile to do their best.

Watch this space to find out more about three other parenting styles.

To pre-order my new book Drama Teen click here.

India both loves and hates the female form. A country of exceptional diversity, it is filled with nuance and contradictions—especially when it comes to women and gender. India is the amalgamation of thousands upon thousands of years of civilization. Today it is a State with over 122 major languages, more than 2000 ethnic groups, and every imaginable religion, geography, income, and education level. All this to say, there is no single India or Indian. Thus, when it comes to understanding something as misunderstood as feminism in a place as complex as India, there are rarely absolute truths and invariably many exceptions.

I don't think anyone, with any degree of intellectual honesty, can say women hold equal status to men in India. And yet, the need for feminism is strongly contested...

India's diversity explains a wide range of cultural paradoxes: the worship of goddesses and the barring of women from temples; reverence for Indira but disdain for working women; a woman's virtue valued above all else amidst a rampant rape culture. These contradictions exist not just in the same nation, but at times within the same person, regardless of education, status or even gender. And while there are many gendered inequities that persist, there are also many women who thrive in every facet of their life despite them. As there is no single "Indian", there is no single brush with which to paint the situation or status of women. That's what makes feminism in India so complicated.

I don't think anyone, with any degree of intellectual honesty, can say women hold equal status to men in India. And yet, the need for feminism is strongly contested by men and women alike. The main arguments I've come across are as follows:

"Feminism is about hating men"

At best, this sentiment is rooted in a deep misunderstanding of what feminism was historically and why the women warriors of our past fought for their rights the way they did. As a woman who has immensely benefited from the tireless and thankless work of those who came before me, I will not ever criticize the how of it. But more often than not, this criticism is based on the intentional misrepresentation of what feminism is. This article does a good job of breaking down where these misconceptions came from and why they exist.

"Feminism is a woman supremacist movement"

Feminism unequivocally is not woman supremacist movement, but "when you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression." Most feminists don't hate men, and we don't consider ourselves superior to men. We most certainly do, however, consider ourselves equal. Nothing less than equal.

As a reaction to feminism there is a growing men's rights movement in India. MRAs (men's rights activists) fall on a spectrum, just like feminists. I won't dismiss the entire movement or all MRAs out of hand; this paragraph isn't for those who want to have a real dialogue about improving society. This is for the MRAs who are focused on discrediting all feminist work and preserving toxic patriarchy. Below is the short list for what does and does not qualify as men's issues:

What I will say to any MRAs reading this article, this is not the place for the above discussions. Please do not try to silence women's issues with your own. That is a separate conversation.

"Feminism spits in the face of our traditions and way of life."

To this I have two simple responses. First, the oppression of women is not the only history of India.

Second, tradition is never a good enough reason to continue to do something. Tradition alone will never be enough.

"Feminism is obsolete. Today women are equal."

Feminism isn't about theoretical equality; it's about the reality in which we all live. And the reality is, most women don't have equal access to resources or opportunity. This is true even in the best of circumstances.

There are many women who have received every single advantage. They have come from good families, have gone to the top schools, work for the best companies, and live utterly comfortable lives. Statistically speaking, however, these women still struggle with inequality often. As a rule, these women are not equal to their male counterparts in terms of pay or rank. But this is a comfortable oppression; it's one that is framed in cultural complexities and implicit biases. The problems of the bourgeoisie.

Privileged women choose not to speak out because they feel guilty about all that they do have, the "it could be much worse" mentality.

The catch 22 of modern feminism becomes one of two things:

Privileged women choose not to speak out because they feel guilty about all that they do have, the "it could be much worse" mentality.

Or when women do speak out, we are seen as victimising ourselves. It's easy to undermine these feminist issues as cribbing, but they are vital. Because even if men and women are theoretically equal, it doesn't mean a thing if we don't hold equal status or influence in society, which we don't.

And the women who aren't lucky enough to have every advantage? Their reality is starkly different, which brings me to the next, related, point.

"There are bigger problems than modern feminist issues."

Finally, circling back to the [un]comfortable oppression of the bourgeoisie, many try to silence women by using other issues, such as extreme poverty, to provide a false perspective (also known as the strawman fallacy). This attempts to distract and invalidate important conversations that need to be had. As organisms with the ability to think critically, we can reconcile co-existing but dramatically different issues. It never has to be one or the other; we can and should care about both.

And though breaking glass ceilings, closing the gender gap in leadership roles, and examining socialisation are important—vital in fact— these are only a small facet of the feminist gamut. The must of feminism is undeniable, but it is not enough. Modern Indian feminists and organisations have to do more, and be better. In a country as large and diverse as India it's especially important to understand social structures and the varying experiences of womanhood. We must be intersectional in our discourse and united in our actions.

This article is the first installment of a three-part series which was originally written for and published on Shenomics.com by Bithika Misha Rahman.

There are thousands of reasons to fall in love with Bangalore. One of them is the amazing food scene. The city is a meat lover's paradise too, with everything from steaks to a wide variety of kebabs on offer at virtually every corner. Speaking of meat, how can we not mention burgers? Nearly every steakhouse and pub has their own version of the burger—most of them big, juicy and tall. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fish or even vegetarian—burgers are pretty much a Bangalore staple and you've got to get yourself a bite... or a few!

Let's show you the way to some of the best places in town where you can grab a burger or enjoy a steak.

Connie's Restaurant & Steakhouse

When: 11am to 11pm

Where: Kammanahalli

Lowdown: Connie's has been dishing out some amazing steaks and burgers, no matter what the time of day. Got morning munchies? How about trying their breakfast beef burger? They also have a bar, which is always handy when you need to wash down your burger with beer.

Portland Steakhouse & Cafe

When: 11:30am to 11pm

Where: MG Road

Lowdown: Portland Steakhouse is known for their steaks but their burgers are good too. Their signature burger is loaded with mushrooms, cheese, potato wedges and BBQ sauce.

ALSO READ: 8 Chinese Restaurants In Bangalore That Deliver Feasts Without Fuss

Once Upon A Flame

When: Noon to 3:30pm, 7pm to 10:45pm

Where: HSR Layout

Lowdown: Burger-loving HSR Layout folks swear by this place, where they can get the best burgers with any meat they want. Order a side of BBQ ribs.

Red Fork

When: 9am to 10:30pm

Where: 594, 12th Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Off 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar

Lowdown: Be it breakfast or dinner, this place has an awesome menu with some delicious burgers. The Red Fork "standard", for instance, comes with a beef patty, caramelised onions, gherkins, mayo, bbq sauce—the works!

Smoked Out Barbecue

When: Noon to 3pm, 7pm to 11pm

Where: Koramangala

Lowdown: A favourite among Koramangala folks is Smoked Out Barbecue. Their open dining area, with grills at the back, makes it a very rustic yet cosy set up. Burgers, steaks and everything you wanted on a chilly night in Bangalore.

Millers 46

When: 11am to 11pm

Where: Vasanth Nagar

Lowdown: If you grew up in Bangalore or have spent a significant number of years in the city, you couldn't have missed eating at Millers 46. This iconic steakhouse dishes out mean burgers too. We're fans of their 46ers half pounder fillet burger.

ALSO READ: 6 Kid-friendly Restaurant Experiences in Bangalore

The Grill House

When: Noon to 11pm

Where: Ulsoor

Lowdown: They claim to be akin to heaven for meat lovers and they aren't off the mark. Their burgers come with an international touch—take your pick from varieties such as Italian, Brazilian, Thai, Indian, Mexican and, of course, All American.

Peppa Zzing

When: 11am to 11:30pm

Where: Infantry Road

Lowdown: If you're in Commercial Street, drop by Peppa Zzing and you will forget about shopping. A tiny, unassuming place, it serves the juiciest and meatiest burgers. They come with good old-fashioned potato chips.

Cafe Thulp

When: 10:20am to 10:30pm

Where: Koramangala

Lowdown: You can't do a "best burgers in town" list and not have Cafe Thulp on it. These guys reintroduced good burgers to Koramangala. Smoked pulled pork, bacon wrapped Philly steak, Vietnamese banh mi pork... these are just a few of our favourite things you'll find between the soft buns they serve.

MUMBAI -- BJP MP Subramanian Swamy today said mere development of the society or nation was not enough to win the election and BJP can never win an election until it pushes forward Hindutva as it's core agenda.

Addressing a gathering in the Ruia College here, he said, "People often say that the governments should focus on developmental works, which should be, but our history says something else. It says that whichever government focused on only development in India could never win the election."

Swamy was here to release the book "Sachchai" written by Shivsena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut.

"Be it Narasimha Rao who abolished licence raj, Rajiv Gandhi who introduced industrial revolution in the country, Morarji Desai who brought down the prices of rations or N Chandra Babu Naidu, the reformer of Andhra Pradesh... All these people lost in subsequent elections," Swamy added.

"And we should not forget Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji too ... Who put forth India Shining slogan. Of course India was shining at economic front, but he could not win the election and number of seats were reduced to half," the BJP leader added.

"And this is why I emphasise that developmental works for a government are necessary but not everything," Swamy said.

"We won 2014 election on two basis. Putting forth the Gujarat model of governance and people set aside their caste perception, rose above it and voted for Hindutva. This is why I always moot Hindutva as a core issue to address and govern our country which is predominantly Hindu," he added.

Also on HuffPost India:

ALEPPO, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - A new deal is being negotiated to complete the evacuation of rebel-held areas of Syria's east Aleppo which ground to a halt on Friday after demands from pro-government forces that people also be moved out of two villages besieged by insurgents.

A Syrian rebel official and a government official said early on Saturday the evacuation of Aleppo would resume and the two Shi'ite villages would be evacuated, as well as the wounded from two towns near the Lebanese border and east Aleppo.

But sources said negotiations were still going on to finalize how the evacuations would take place and how many people would leave. By Saturday afternoon there was no sign it was being implemented, with only an hour to go before sunset.

A point of contention in talks this week has been the number of people who will be allowed to leave the Shi'ite villages of al-Foua and Kefraya in Idlib province, which are besieged by insurgents.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said thousands of cold, scared and injured people were still in east Aleppo waiting to leave. It said it had received some indications that a deal would be reached soon.

"It was agreed to resume evacuations from east Aleppo in parallel with the evacuation of (medical) cases from Kefraya and al-Foua and some cases from Zabadani and Madaya," said the government official, part of the evacuations negotiating team.

The towns of Madaya and Zabadani are blockaded by pro-government forces.

The operation to evacuate fighters and civilians from the last opposition-held area of Aleppo was suspended on Friday, its second day, after pro-government militias demanded that wounded people also be brought out of al-Foua and Kefraya, and protesters blocked the evacuation road out of Aleppo.

There were recriminations on all sides and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said "Aleppo is now a synonym for hell".

The chaos surrounding the Aleppo evacuation reflects the complexity of Syria's civil war, with an array of groups and foreign interests involved on each side.

Aleppo had been divided between government and rebel areas in the nearly six-year war, but a lightning advance by the Syrian army and its allies that began in mid-November after months of intense air strikes deprived the insurgents of most of their territory in a matter of weeks.

BEATEN AND ROBBED

Numerous activists, rebels and east Aleppo residents shared reports and videos of people fleeing the sound of shooting, being detained and returning home badly beaten and robbed of their possessions near a checkpoint as they tried to leave the city on Friday.

Syrian rebel official al-Farouk Abu Bakr, speaking from Aleppo to news channel al-Arabiya al-Hadath on Saturday, said the previous evacuation deal was breached by pro-government militias who detained "hundreds" of people trying to leave, leading to some deaths.

A Syrian military source denied this, but said a convoy trying to leave Aleppo was returned back to the city.

"Now we are working on international guarantees to guarantee the safety of those who leaveAleppo so that such violations are not repeated," Abu Bakr said.

An activist and teacher inside rebel-held Aleppo, Wissam Zarqa, told journalists via a messaging app that he spent Friday in the cold with his family hoping to leave. He said he did not feel safe trying to flee Aleppo after hearing about the attack on the convoy.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the ICRC said guarantees were needed to protect people trying to leave.

"We're ready to resume facilitating the evacuation according to our humanitarian mandate. But we now expect all the parties on the ground to provide us with solid guarantees in order to keep the operation going," said Marianne Gasser, head of the ICRC in Syria.

"They're the ones who have to protect the people and provide safe passage."

NO BUSES YET

A resident in Aleppo told Reuters that by late afternoon nobody had left the rebel-held enclave and no buses had entered. He heard gunfire near where people were supposed to wait for buses.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, said no buses or ambulances had entered al-Foua or Kefraya. It said around 20,000 people, of whom roughly 4,500 are pro-government fighters, were in the villages.

A military news outlet run by Damascus's ally Hezbollah said evacuation buses were heading to the two villages.

Iran, one of Syria's main allies, had demanded that the villages be included in any ceasefire deal, rebel and United Nations officials have said.

Though both Russia and Iran back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, rebels have blamed Tehran and the Shi'ite groups it backs in Syria for obstructing Moscow's efforts to broker the evacuation of east Aleppo.

The Observatory said 8,000 people, including some 3,000 fighters and more than 300 wounded, left the city in convoys of buses and ambulances in the evacuations that began on Thursday morning.

Rebel officials say the numbers evacuated are much lower, with no fighters having left.

The U.N. says around 30,000 people remain in rebel-held Aleppo, of whom a number would be taken to Idlib province, which is mostly controlled by hardline Islamist groups, and the rest would go to government-held city districts.

Idlib is already a target for Syrian and Russian air strikes but it is unclear whether the governmentwill push for a ground assault or simply seek to contain rebels there for now.

Turkey has said Aleppo evacuees could also be housed in a camp to be constructed near the Turkish border to the north.

OVERNIGHT BOMBING

The Observatory said war planes bombed insurgent-controlled areas west of Aleppo overnight and north of Aleppo on Saturday.

Syrian state media reported on Saturday that a number of fighters south of Damascus had surrendered their weapons to the state in the towns of Zakiya and al-Deirkheyba as part of local truces.

Through a series of so-called "settlement" agreements and army offensives, the Syrian government, backed by Russian air power and Iranian-backed militias, has been steadily suppressing armed opposition to its rule in the capital city's suburbs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Syria's most powerful ally, said on Friday he was working with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to try to start a new round of Syrian peace talks aimed at securing a nationwide ceasefire.

A senior Syrian opposition leader, Riyad Hijab, said he was willing to attend the talks if the aim was to set up a transition government. Assad has ruled out stepping down as part of a political solution to the war.

Aleppo, a once-flourishing economic center with renowned ancient sites, has been pulverized during the war that has killed more than 300,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis and allowed for the rise of Islamic State.

The United States has watched from the sidelines as the Syrian government and its allies, including Russia, pinned down the rebels in an ever-diminishing pocket of territory, culminating in a ceasefire this week.

Even with victory for Assad in Aleppo, the war will be far from over. Insurgents retain their rural stronghold of Idlib province as well as other territory in western, northern and southern Syria, and the jihadist Islamic State group holds swathes of the east and recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra this week.

(Reporting by Laila Bassam in Aleppo and Lisa Barrington and Tom Perry in Beirut; Writing by Anna Willard; Editing by Dale Hudson)

PUNE -- A female national-level shooter has filed a complaint against a fellow shooter, who is a Arjuna awardee, for allegedly threatening and intimidating her during the 60th National Shooting Championship Competition held here, police said Saturday.

The woman had earlier this month filed a case of rape in Delhi against the shooter.

On December 4, the victim had alleged that she was raped by the shooter, who was her also her coach, following which an FIR was lodged against him at Chanakyapuri police station in Delhi.

The latest complaint was registered on Friday evening at the Hinjewadi police station here. The female shooter was in the city to participate in the competition where the accused was also competing, police said.

As per the complaint, both shooters confronted each other at the venue and the accused allegedly threatened and intimidated her, a police official said.

"After the incident, the male shooter disappeared from the event and he is not reachable now," he added.

The female shooter, in her earlier complaint with Chanakyapuri police station, stated that she had known the accused for over two years as they used to practise together.

The woman also had stated that she was training for the national championships at the shooting range of the Sports Authority of India and the accused, who had competed in international events, used to guide her.

The two got involved in a relationship and the shooter promised to marry her, according to the FIR. An FIR was lodged under section 376 and 328 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The complainant had said that the coach had recently visited her at her residence in Chanakyapuri on her birthday and allegedly offered her a drink which was spiked with sedatives.

She had alleged that she was raped by the accused after she fell unconscious after having the drink.

Later, she stated that she had met him at the shooting range, but he refused to acknowledge that he had promised to marry her and when she protested, he threatened to kill her.

The woman had then approached the police to register a complaint, following which she was sent for a medical examination, which confirmed rape, police added.

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:

As we come to the end of 2016, many of us start to look back – and reflect. The year has been defining – even redefining – in many ways. Politics, technology and culture have all seen major leaps and in some cases, hurdles. In public health, it's been a big year for sugar.

Global recognition is building for the very real health concerns posed by large and increasing quantities of hidden sugar in our diets. This near-ubiquitous additive found in products from pasta sauces to mayonnaise has been in the headlines and in our discussions. The seemingly innocuous sweet treat raises eyebrows from community groups to policy makers - and change is in the air.

Let's review some of the sugar-coated headers from the past 12 months:

• The global obesity epidemic continued to build while more than two-in-three Australian adults faced overweight or obesity – and almost one in four of our children.

• Science around sugary drinks further solidified, with consumption now linked to obesity, childhood obesity, heart disease, diabetes(type-2), dental caries and even lower fertility.

• Australians were estimated to consume a staggering 76 litres of sugary drinks each since January alone, and new reports highlighted that as much as 15% of the crippling health costs associated with obesity could result from sugary drinks consumption.

• Meanwhile around the planet, more countries took sound policy measures to reduce sugar consumption in their citizens. France, Belgium, Hungary, Finland, Chile, the UK, Ireland, South Africa and many parts of the United States implemented, continued or planned the implementation of pricing policies for sugary drinks.

In short, the over-consumption of sugar is now well recognised as a public health challenge everywhere. With all this in mind and a New Year ahead, it's time to put big words into local action. With resolutions brewing, here are seven helpful tips to breaking up with sugar in 2017.

1. Understand sugar

When it comes to sugar, things can get pretty confusing. Below, I shed some light on the common misunderstandings, but let's recheck sugar itself – in simplest terms.

Sugar is a type of refined carbohydrate and a source of calories in our diet. Our body uses sugar and other sources of calories as energy, and any sugar that is not used is eventually stored as fat in our liver or on our bellies.

"Free sugars" are those added to products or concentrated in the products – either by us or by the manufacturer. They don't include sugars in whole fruits and vegetables, but more on that later. For a range of health reasons, the World Health Organization recommends we get just 5% of our daily calories from free sugars. For a fully grown man or woman, this equates to a recommended limit to sugar consumption of roughly 25 grams - or 6 teaspoons. For women, it's a little less again.

Consume more than this, and our risk of health problems rises.

2. Quit soft drinks

With 16 teaspoons of sugar in a single bottle serving – that's more than 64 grams – there's nothing "soft" about soft drinks. Including all carbonated drinks, flavoured milks and energy drinks with any added sugars, as well as fruit drinks and juices, sugary drinks are a great place to focus your efforts for a healthier 2017. Sugary drinks provide no nutritional value to our diets and yet are a major source of calories.

What's more concerning, evidence suggests that when we drink calories in the form of sugary drinks, our brains don't recognise these calories in the same way as with foods. They don't make us feel "full" and could even make us hungrier - so we end up eating (and drinking) more. In this way, liquid calories can be seen as even more troubling than other forms of junk foods. Combine this with studies that suggest the pleasure (and sugar spike) provided by sugary drinks may make them hard to give up – and it's not difficult to see why many of us are drinking higher amounts, more often and in larger servings. This also makes cutting down harder.

The outcome is that anything up to one-seventh of the entire public cost of obesity in Australia could now result from sugary drinks. In other words, cut out the sugary drinks and you'll be doing your own health a favour – and the health of our federal and state budgets.

3. Eat fruit, not juice

When it's wrapped in a peel or a skin, fruit sugars are not a challenge to our health. In fact, the sugars in fruit are nature's way of encouraging us to eat the fruit to begin with. Fruits like oranges, apples and pears contain important fibres. The "roughage" in our foods, this fibre is healthy in many ways but there are three in particular I will focus on. First, it slows our eating down; it is easy to drink a glass of juice squeezed from 7 apples, but much harder to eat those seven pieces whole. Second, it makes us feel full or satiated. And third, it slows the release of the sugars contained in fruit into our blood streams, thus allowing our bodies to react and use the energy appropriately, reducing our chances of weight gain and possibly even diabetes.

Juice, on the other hand, involves the removal of most of those fibres and even the loss of some of the important vitamins. What we don't lose though, is the 21 grams or more than five teaspoons of sugar in each glass.

In short, eat fruit as a snack with confidence. But enjoy whole fruit, not juice.

4. Sugar by any other name

High-fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, malt sugar and molasses – they all mean one thing: sugar.

As the public awakens to the health challenges posed by sugar, the industry turns to new ways to confuse consumers and make 'breaking up' more difficult. One such way is to use the many alternative names for sugar – instead of the 's' word itself. Be on the lookout for:

Evaporated cane juice, golden syrup, malt syrup, sucrose, fruit juice concentrate, dextrose and more...

5. Eat whole foods where possible

Tomato sauce, mayonnaise, salad dressings, gravies, taco sauces, savoury biscuits and breakfast cereals – these are just some of the many foods now often packed with hidden, added sugars.

A study found that 74% of packaged foods in an average American supermarket contain added sugars – and there is little evidence to suggest Australia would be dramatically different. Added to food to make it more enjoyable, and moreish, the next tip when avoiding such a ubiquitous additive is to eat whole foods.

It's hard to hide sugar in plain flour, or a tomato, or frozen peas. Buying and cooking with mostly whole foods – not products – is a great way to ensure you and your family are not consuming added sugars unaware.

6. See beyond (un)healthy claims

Words like "wholesome", "natural" and "healthy" are clad on many of our favourite ingredients. Sadly, they don't mean much.

Even products that are full of sugar, like breakfast cereals and energy bars, often carry claims that aim to confuse and seduce us into purchase. Be wary – and be sure to turn the package over and read the ingredients and nutrition labelling where possible (and if time permits).

7. Be okay with sometimes

The final but crucial message in all of this is that eating or drinking sugar is not a sin. Sugar is still a part of our lives and something to enjoy in moderation. The occasional piece of cake, or late night chocolate – despite the popular narrative painted by industry to undermine efforts for true pricing on sugar – these occasional sweet treats are not the driving challenge for obesity. The problem is that sugary drinks, and sugar in our foods, have become every day occurrences.

With this in mind, let's not demonise sugar but instead let's see it for what it is. Enjoy some juice or bubbles from time to time but make water the default on an everyday basis. With the average can of cola containing 39 grams or 9 teaspoons of sugar, be OK with sometimes.

Bitter truth

Let's be honest, most countries now face serious health challenges from obesity. Even more concerning, so do our kids. While no single mission will be the panacea to a complex problem, using 2017 to set a new healthy goal of giving sugar the kick would be a great start.

Understand sugar, be aware of it, minimise it and see it for what it is – a special treat for a rare occasion.

This New Year's, make breaking up with sugar your planned resolution.

"Hey sugar – it's not me, it's you..."

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Connect with Sandro on Twitter and Instagram via (@sandrodemaio) to comment or share.

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This column post was written by Dr Alessandro Demaio in his personal capacity. The views, opinions and positions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the views of any third party. Additionally, those providing comments on this blogs are doing so in their personal capacity, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of the author. Dr Alessandro Demaio works for the World Health Organization, Geneva.