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NEW DELHI: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, a Muslim wed to a Pakistani cricketer, broke down in tears Friday after being described by a Hindu nationalist politician as “Pakistan's daughter-in-law” and unfit to be an Indian representative.
Mirza, 27, who is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, wiped away tears as she told India's NDTV network she was tired of continually being forced to defend her “Indianness”.
“I am a very patriotic person that is why I am so emotional right now,” Mirza, who wed Malik in 2010, said in the interview aired on television.
In comments reported earlier this week by local media, K. Laxman, a regional legislator belonging to the national ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), questioned the credentials of Mirza to be “brand ambassador” for the country's newest state Telengana in southern India.
I will remain an Indian 'until the end', Sania tells BJP
Laxman was quoted as saying Mirza's marriage to Malik made her a “daughter-in-law” of Pakistan, India's Muslim neighbour and nuclear-armed rival with which the mainly Hindu but officially secular country has fought three wars.
Telangana, carved this year out of the state of Andhra Pradesh “is proud of Sania,” said in appointing her brand ambassador for the region.
Mirza grew up in the city of Hyderabad in what is now Telangana.
“Fans across the country don't think her Indianness has gotten mysteriously diluted,” because of her wedding to Malik, the Times of India said in an opinion-page piece.
Mirza, who has played for India at all major-level sporting events, has been defended by leaders across the political spectrum, including BJP members who said its party member's comment did not reflect its official stance.
Mirza earlier this month achieved a career-best rank of number five in the world when the new World Tennis Association doubles chart was released.
“After winning medals for India after I got married, (I) don't know why I have to keep justifying that I am Indian,” Mirza told NDTV.
The latest incident is seen as potentially further fanning concern among Muslims and other religious minorities over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP government.
The controversy has erupted just days after some MPs from the Hindu right-wing Shiv Sena tried to forcibly feed a chapati – an Indian flatbread – to a Muslim restaurant manager fasting for Ramadan because they were unhappy about food at a government canteen.
The lawmakers belonging to Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, said they had not known the canteen supervisor was Muslim and they were complaining because the bread was so hard it “didn't even break”.
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Jul 25, 2014 11:33pm
Sania, don't let some idiots who want to politicize your marriage affect you as they are not worth it. Also don't forget that the Indians who support you outnumber the ones who don't by a huge margin!
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Jul 25, 2014 11:37pm
Sania got One Crore Rupees to become Brand Ambassador of newly craved state Telangna, so why she will not claim her patriotism ,it is another matter there were other equally famous sport star, Saina Nehwal,Laxman 0r Azaharuddin etc who equally fill the bill,.
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Jul 25, 2014 11:41pm
What an inane and brainless controversy!! She may have married a Pakistani, but she chose not to migrate to Pakistan. She may be Pakistan's "daughter-in-law" but she is India's daughter first (and by her own admission, forever). Please pay no credence to a bigoted, misogynist mongrel of a politician. I bet you don't have to look too hard to find those in Pakistan, too.
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Jul 25, 2014 11:51pm
sans should have expected such comments,so what is new. If she thinks she is Indian, she is, and that is that. If she wants to be Pakistani, let her be. So who really cares?
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Jul 26, 2014 12:00am
Lack of Tolerance exists every where. I would love to see comments from Indian friends on this. Even though this is no where close to what Taliban have done in Pakistan\Afghanistan or what ISIS is doing in Iraq, it is still a form of extremism.
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Jul 26, 2014 12:07am
LET IT GO...Let it go...She is already a champion and a married woman ( No matter with a Pakistani Man) nothing gonna change with this buzz of some Jurky Jack As+ez. God bless Pakistan !
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Jul 26, 2014 12:09am
This stupidity has to stop. Sania is Pakistan's bahu and she is Indian and should always remain a proud Indian! Stop politicizing every darn thing!
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Jul 26, 2014 12:12am
Comeon, let it go. There are always many who would say things that might hurt, but there are many including BJP top leaders who stepped forward to make it unequivocally clear that she is Indian and always will be until she choses otherwise.
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Jul 26, 2014 12:20am
Dont cry. You are a goodwill ambassador between India and Pakistan. Your newly created State shall benefit business and investment wisr from Pakistan just becsuse of you.
The weapon of love shall triumph at end. I see lots of Pakistanis has origin in India. For thrm its a mother country. Dont be bothered by hate mongerd.
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Jul 26, 2014 12:20am
Sania Mirza is our national icon...we all Indians are proud of her & her achievements. She is role model for all the female sport person not only in India but whole subcontinent. I feel ashamed of this BJP politician who himself have done nothing for the country and trying to insult our sports idol by making such nonsense statement.
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Jul 26, 2014 12:24am
Looks like an unforced error for Sania. Only a matter of time before BJP takes our cutie pie actors like Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar to task.
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Jul 26, 2014 12:31am
Leave this poor girl alone. I think you have more serious issues in India to be sorted out like rape and murder of young girls and children. Please respect a woman as she is a mother, a sister, a wife and a daughter.
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Jul 26, 2014 12:46am
Absolute rubbish! It is her life. She is a born Indian and proud of it, she married a Pakistani person and they love each other. I don't see how she is unsuitable of representing India. She has made good name for India. Our politicians are busy trying to loot money and they have bigger issues to worry about than this.
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Jul 26, 2014 12:49am
shes an athlete, why does it matter which nationality her husband is? people are just too nosey. Leave her alone now
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Jul 26, 2014 12:54am
It
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Jul 26, 2014 12:58am
Another incredible example of shining India- disclaiming its own people and oppressing its minorities!
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Jul 26, 2014 01:11am
That won't help bjp cause here in Pakistan... they are considered to be religious fanatics...
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Jul 26, 2014 01:21am
She should be proud of being called a daughter-in-law of Pakistan instead of crying
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Jul 26, 2014 01:24am
Sania Mirza should not take seriously the idiotic utterances by Shiv Sena. I am sure neither BJP nor any other main stream party, or Indians at large hold such skewed opinions about her.
We too have a fair share of these extremist elements in Pakistan who thrive on hatred and fear, and have taken the entire nation as hostage to their narrow interpretation of faith and patriotism.
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Jul 26, 2014 01:35am
Sania is being targeted for being a Muslim and marrying a Pakistani. Anyone thinking otherwise is in denial.
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Jul 26, 2014 01:43am
India shining!
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Jul 26, 2014 01:56am
Sania: When an elephant is out taking a stroll, all the dogs of the neighbourhood go yap, yap, yap. The elephant does not lose it's composure. Be like that elephant!
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Jul 26, 2014 02:00am
@Citizen - Thanks! We have many like that with NS & Co but the problem is many suck up to them whereas you don't.
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Jul 26, 2014 02:06am
I am pleased at the comments by the Tennis Star Sania Mirza. India is proud to have her as a life long citizen. She need not defend her citizenship to bigots who will never stop politicizing everything.
Hooray for Sania!
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Jul 26, 2014 02:17am
Sania is and always will be Indian. period.
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Jul 26, 2014 02:39am
It is not only Sania who is being insulted, I have heard through many Indians how Muslims are being tormented & insulted in India. The easiest way is to brand them having soft corner for Pakistan. It is a shame that the Muslims of India have to prove how Indian they are.
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Jul 26, 2014 02:40am
Small minded. And do you think these people will one day become a world power like China?
While Indians think India is for Indians, Muslims consider the whole world to be theirs. Said Iqbal:
Cheen o Arab hamara, Hindostan hamara
Muslim hein hum watan hey sara jahan hamara.
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Jul 26, 2014 02:45am
The Indian Politicians should stop wasting time on Sania Mirza and sort out the problems they have a couple of days ago a 6year old was raped by the head teacher why are the politicians not standing up for that.
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Jul 26, 2014 02:50am
Sania,
Just ignore these bigots. They themselves are devoid of any productive skills, and, hence, turn to belittle other achievers. Barring a few bigots like Laxman, every Indian who is aware of your achievements is proud of you.
Whenever you have played at the international events, you have proudly represented India, & for that, I ,am sure, the nation has supported and rejoiced in your hard-felt achievements. Please brush aside the asinine and keep doing what u do best. Regards!
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Jul 26, 2014 02:52am
The opinion only belongs to the politician, We all indians love you Mirza.
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Jul 26, 2014 03:18am
@Ahmer Are you kidding me?
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Jul 26, 2014 03:32am
Interesting to see how even people of letters (can read and write, maybe have degrees, but not necessarily 'educated') can be swayed by the biased media. The context of the comment was in the fact that the newly born state has established 1956 as the date to say if a person's roots are in Telangana or not. So, if a person was born in 1957, his children and grandchildren will not be considered Telangana natives and hence not be able to partake the state aid set aside for folks with Telangana roots. This single issue has caused a lot of heartburn in the masses. The BJP leader was attempting sarcasm about the Telangana native cut-off year matter. He said that Sania was not even born in Telangana - nor were her parents. She moved Hyd after her birth. So, by state definition she is not a Telangana native. The BJP leader was stupid to end it with one additional statement that Sania is the daughter-in-law of Pakistan. Which she is - like they call Sonia the Bahu of India. No crime there. But, those last few words have nothing to do with the Telangana native cut-off year issue. But, media - and the followers of the Pied Piper (i.e. biased media) - have ignored the whole paragraph and honed in on the last unconnected sentence. Funnier is to see Sania cash in her chips by draping herself in the tiranga when in reality, the attack was aimed at Telangana state govt. and not at her.
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Jul 26, 2014 04:47am
This insinuation by a few nasty individuals brings shame to India.
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Jul 26, 2014 05:07am
She is good sport person now she proved she may be good actress too.She already wish to work with Akshay Kumar. Great work keep it up.
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Jul 26, 2014 07:13am
Politicians should be given training in articulating their views. One gets the impression that the BJP legislator was actually irked by the political move of the ruling party in Telengana to score a point by making Sania the brand ambassador. But, having decided to make an issue of it, the BJP leader did not know how to raise the issue without giving it a nasty communal colour. This is not the first time people in prominent positions have kicked up controversies by saying things as if they were sitting in the privacy of their drawing rooms where they could open their mouth and utter whatever came to the mind. A public figure talking in front of a camera must know the outreach of the words uttered by him. I am sure all sane BJP leaders feel embarrassed by this comment. No one among the common public, I know, would approve of such a remark. Sania is one of our national heroes and a wayside comment by someone cannot bring her down in public estimation.
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Jul 26, 2014 07:49am
Let this a reminder for the Aman ki Asha brainwashed people who think we can have meaningful friendships with a country that can not even tolerate the name of our country.
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Jul 26, 2014 08:17am
This is all media... makes controversy from nothing and people tend to waste their time.
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Jul 26, 2014 08:51am
@Mohammad Waseem These are Indian politicians saying so. Don't think ordinary Indians think so. We despise these politicians more than you.
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Jul 26, 2014 09:09am
Shoaib is Bharat ka Damad
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Jul 26, 2014 09:17am
I bet ya all! If they call her American, no one will have problem.
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Jul 26, 2014 09:27am
"The latest incident is seen as potentially further fanning concern among Muslims and other religious minorities over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP government". What if this happened in congress government. Just that habit of pinting finger towards Modi woudln't go away
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Jul 26, 2014 09:32am
Sania is Hyderabadi and I am surprised how she married a Punjabi boy(man) who was thrown out of the cricket team. My experience tells that this marriage will end soon as the honeymoon is over. Both are at the end of their not so fine career. They were just "also ran" in their respective fields
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Jul 26, 2014 09:59am
Pakistani media are feigning ignorance or are they ignorant of the fact that India is a secular country in every way irrespective of the party in power? To obtain publicity it is not unusual among politicians to give controversial statements. It appears that since Pakistan is islamic in every way Pakistan wants to brand India as a Hindu country. In India any person can occupy any chair if he deserves it by merit. His faith is not at all important. My Ramzan greetings to all peace loving Muslims in Pakistan......
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Jul 26, 2014 11:23am
We all love Sania and we have no doubt about her patriotism.
Shoaib is son-in-law of India ;)
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Jul 26, 2014 12:24pm
The reality is that she is the daughter-in-law of Pakistan. There is nothing to be ashamed about. Just the way a Pakistani marring an Indian would be the daughter-in-law of India - nothing wrong with that either. People need to change their perceptions - not the labels which reflect only reality.
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Jul 26, 2014 01:04pm
Sania's dilemma is the dilemma of every Indian Muslim. "Being forced to defend Indianness"..says it all.
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Jul 26, 2014 01:21pm
@Cool Henry : Spot on !!! Absolutely right. Funny, how many people jump the gun and just comment without really understanding the entire context.
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Jul 26, 2014 10:50pm
Sania ur decision to be Indian is always respected, its or birth country. U r also always welcomed in Pakistan as u r respected here as Bhabbi.
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Jul 26, 2014 11:10pm
@Imran: I could not agree more with your statement.
Does India really expect to be taken seriously on the world stage after such outbursts by its ruling party politicians?
The world is always told India is secular?!
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Jul 27, 2014 12:04am
@Sumit Mazumdar
This is the best comment by far !
Traditionally that's how the story would continue...
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Jul 27, 2014 01:23am
@Hassan Just because one politician said something?Grow up mate
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Jul 27, 2014 03:32am
Sania Mirza or Shoaib Mirza both left their countries and living in Dubai. Pakistani people give much respect both of them but both are not patriotic to their countries.
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Jul 27, 2014 03:53am
@Cool Henry: Spot on !!! Aboslutely right. Funny, how many people jump the gun and comment without really being aware of the entire context.
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Jul 27, 2014 07:03am
Now Ms Sania enough is enough -- please don't make a mountain out of a mole hill -- just ignore the bugger.
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Jul 27, 2014 07:11am
@Hamood
Being a muslim in India is not an issue or problem (unlike Pakistan).
The problem is - she married a Pakistani.
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Jul 27, 2014 08:51am
@Prakash
Saina Nehwal is from Haryana and Laxman is from the Andhra region. Azharuddin?? Really? The man who was convicted for match-fixing, you want him as a brand ambassador?
I think Sania was the best choice!
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Jul 27, 2014 09:39am
@Hamood hello this is politic u do not have any information regarding internal matter
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Jul 27, 2014 10:21am
Any party with acronym BJP should be taken very seriously. Believe me it has connotations !
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Jul 27, 2014 11:47am
@Mohammad Waseem: reaction of Indians in general and all the political parties is loud and clear - Sania Mirza is a jewel for India who did the nation proud. Even this person who made such an irresponsible statement tried to mend himself later by issuing some kind of clarification but only made a fool of himself.
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Jul 27, 2014 12:19pm
Every Indian and Pakistani should be proud of her.
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Jul 27, 2014 02:43pm
such politicians had hurt india in 1947 by sowing the seeds of hate between Indians, Mr;Jinah a patriotic Indian and a superb member of the congress was forced to take a course which lead to the patrician of India. Learn from your mistakes.
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Jul 27, 2014 02:47pm
Late PM Rajive Gandhi was also son in law of Italy?
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Jul 27, 2014 04:03pm
Pakistan declares DILIP KUMAR'S house a national monument. Dilip, a muslim, who has taken a filmi Hindu name. This declaration was ordered by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Sania, a muslim, still keeping a muslim name, marries a Pakistani, lives mostly in Dubai, never revoked her Indian Nationality, is being attacked for, not being Pakistani, but being Pakistani Bahu. Then Sani is being forced to defend her marriage to a Pakistani. That is how far a newly formed Hindu State, India, operates. India is inching towards becoming a religious state. The very fabric of Indian secular state is being torn, and its ruling BJP is doing good job in depressing its Muslim Citizens, by challenging their loyalty.
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Jul 27, 2014 06:36pm
Didn't know we are still paying dowry after so many years of marriage :)
On a doubly lighter note, had Sania married Irman khan, he would have handled our Congress party better as a damadG as our present bahu heading the party has some issues in her sasural.
On a serious note, Sania knows well that the real issue is the telangana nativity and she took advantage of that as a drama queen, so no one points finger at taking such huge money.
On a doubly serious note, Arnab Goswami of Times Now is also took advantage of this to rake up TRP as he very well knows, the core issue is telengana, unless if he is a buddhu, like our bahu's son.
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Jul 27, 2014 06:39pm
@Hamood Wrong interpretation. She is not being targeted for being a Muslim. She had been loved with pride by all Indians when she was unmarried. But the day she decided to marry a Pakistani, all the respects got vanished. She could have married perrson from within this world except a Pakistani, the respect will be there for ever by all Indians irrespective of religion.
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Jul 27, 2014 10:12pm
@IKE you are wrong we Muslim as president army general ias top police officer no three rich person in India is Muslim stop your propaganda
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Jul 28, 2014 12:37am
dont cry hun
you are now pak's daughter
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Jul 28, 2014 08:18am
No one is talking about whether Mrs. Mirza can even speak Telgu. She cannot. She is not even born in the state and does not reside also. You can say Mr. Bacchan became brand ambassador of Gujarath. But the difference is he isgiving his services free of cost, where has Mrs. Mirza is charging one crore per year. Lot of toilets can be constructed using that money if not schools.
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Jul 28, 2014 08:33am
Neither she is Pakistans daughter in law nor is India's daughter. She's just a young athlete who won some laurels for her India and then got married. Her personal actions should not impact her public life.
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Jul 28, 2014 12:44pm
Issue overhyped by media people.. we have lot of other issues in our country which requires more attention than this...
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Jul 28, 2014 12:46pm
@Shah Indians do not like Pakistanis. End of story.
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Jul 28, 2014 01:09pm
Sania is good girl. Has good character, Is modest .In tennis world ladies as well as gents freely use profane language but Sania does not. Every girl in our subcontinent should follow the ideals of Sania. Why she can not belong to both countries? why should other people interfere in he private life cause her dispair. I felt bad seeing this good girl wronged and crying. krishnamurtirao
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Jul 28, 2014 01:19pm
@s tanvir yes that is why we dislike Sonia Gandhi
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Jul 28, 2014 02:16pm
Lot of waste of time over some stupid indian politician's comment. Don't we have jokers too?
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Jul 29, 2014 01:53am
@IKE :Please share with us all what you are smoking.
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Jul 29, 2014 03:01am
For Hindus every Muslim is not an Indian but outsider.
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