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India.com
13-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Ranveer Allahbadia Holds Up Osamas Photo On Piers Morgan Show During India-Pakistan Debate; Internet Asks, Who Invited Him To Show?
New Delhi: Just days after grabbing headlines for a controversial post, Ranveer Allahbadia is back in the spotlight following his appearance on the Piers Morgan show. The YouTuber, also known as 'BeerBiceps', joined a panel discussing India-Pakistan relations alongside Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar, and Shehzad Ghias Shaikh from The Pakistan Experience. During the discussion, Allahbadia was seen holding a photo of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden and terrorist Hafiz Abdul Rauf, using it to illustrate his stance. He described India's retaliatory actions as 'precision-oriented, moderated, and a retaliation,' adding that India has never been 'an aggressor in any of these situations.' 'We export vaccines, philosophy, engineers, and leaders to the world – which is why our economy is eleven times that of Pakistan's,' Allahbadia stated. He also questioned the host, saying, 'Piers, my question is to you. You've seen the objective facts and figures. What do you feel about this situation?' 'The world only knows this person (Osama bin Laden)… India has a list of people like him,' he added. "THIS is the narrative the world should know." Ranveer Allahbadia holds up a picture of Osama Bin Laden during Piers Morgan's debate on the ceasefire with Pakistan. Watch in full | @BeerBicepsGuy | @BDUTT — Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) May 12, 2025 Deleted Post Controversy Allahbadia was questioned about a now-deleted social media post in which he addressed "Pakistani brothers and sisters." The post read: 'Dear Pakistani Brothers & Sisters, I will get hate from many Indians for this, but it is important to be said. Just like many Indians, I don't have hate in my heart for you. Many of us want peace as well. Whenever we meet Pakistanis, you invariably welcome us with love. But…' Responding to the question, Ranveer explained that he deleted the post because Pakistan had broken the ceasefire shortly after a peace agreement. 'I deleted it because Pakistan had just broken the ceasefire and gave us another reason to not trust the entire state once again. Even if you try to have a conversation with Pakistan, it responds with 'Where's the proof of the Pahalgam attack?'' he said. How Did the Internet React? Online reactions were mixed. While some praised Ranveer for articulating his viewpoint, others questioned his credibility and motives. One user wrote critically, 'Paid program to repair all the damage he did.' Another said, 'Piers, sorry bro… you got the clown for the interview.' A third comment read, 'Who invited him to that show? What are his credentials for speaking on geopolitical issues? How much was paid for that seat at the table?' A fourth person joked, 'Since when did Ranveer start representing India? Just kidding.' A fifth commenter said: 'He deleted his tweet not because of the ceasefire but because of the backlash. He's always been friendly to Pakistanis but still got bashed by both sides.' However, others came to his defense, appreciating his preparedness and articulate delivery during the panel.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Internet puzzled at Ranveer Allahbadia discussing India-Pak conflict on Piers Morgan's show: ‘What are his credentials?'
YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia was invited by British journalist Piers Morgan at a robust debate along with Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar and Shehzad Ghias Shaikh from The Pakistan Experience, to discuss ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. However, the internet could not fathom Ranveer's presence at the show questioning his credentials to talk about geo politics. (Also read: How Ranveer Allahbadia countered Pakistan narrative with Osama bin Laden photo on Piers Morgan show: 'Proofs, facts') Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as Beer Biceps, addressed the India-Pakistan conflict on Piers Morgan Uncensored, where he showed images of Osama bin Laden and Hafiz Abdul Rauf to highlight differing narratives and emphasise India's non-aggressive stance in the region. Calling India's attacks as 'precision-oriented, moderated, and a retaliation', Beer Biceps said India has never been 'an aggressor in any of these situations." "We export vaccines, philosophy, engineers and leaders to the world – which is why our economy is eleven times the economy of Pakistan," he added. He then questioned Piers Morgan back and asked what he felt about the situation. 'India has a list of people just like this man,' he said, again picking up Laden's photo. Piers also questioned Ranveer about a now-deleted social media post of his in which Ranveer referred to Pakistanis as "brothers and sisters" following the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. Replying to the allegations, Ranveer said, 'I deleted it because Pakistan had just broken the ceasefire and gave us another reason to not trust the entire state once again. Even if you try to have a conversation with Pakistan, it responds with 'where's the proof of the Pahalgam attack?'' While some fans appreciated Ranveer's immaculate presentation, others were quick to question his qualification to be speaking about India-Pakistan politics on social media. One user commented, 'Who invited him to that show? What are his credentials for speaking on geopolitical issues? How much was paid for that seat on the table?'. Another user said, 'Beer biceps for a discussion like this is just diabolical.' One user wrote, 'When a YouTuber is enough to take on Ex Foreign Minister and a career politician. lol.' Another user commented, 'Out of all in India you had beer biceps to rep India….fml'. Another user pointed out, 'Bringing in BeerBiceps as some kind of a representative for India was a new low for Piers Morgan which is saying something. He has no qualification to be speaking about geopolitics and there is no good reason for having him on." In February, Ranveer found himself entangled in a controversy after appearing in an episode of comedian Samay Raina's show India's Got Latent, which also featured Apoorva Mukhija and Ashish Chanchlani. On the show, Ranveer asked a contestant, "Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once to make it stop forever?" The remark received intense backlash, followed by multiple FIRs against the makers and those present on the show. In an apology video on X, Ranveer admitted that his comment was not only inappropriate but also not funny. He also submitted a written apology to the NCW over his offensive remarks made on the show.
India Today
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Ranveer Allahbadia counters Pak narrative with bin Laden pic on Piers Morgan show
YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia held up a picture of Osama bin Laden during a debate on Piers Morgan's show on the ceasefire between India and Pakistan after four days of aggressive military action from both sides. Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, started off by saying that he would be presenting "proofs, facts and figures."Allahbadia held up two photos during the debate and said, "This is the narrative the world should know."advertisementHe first held up a picture of 26/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden and said, "this is the face that the world recognises" and then held up a picture of LeT terrorist Abdul Rauf at a funeral attended by Pakistani army officials. "This is the face that India recognises," he said. As Allahbadia challenged Pakistan's narrative, on the panel with him were Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Hina Khar, and Shehzad Ghias Shaikh from 'The Pakistan Experience'."It is more specific to our narrative. This man is a UN-designated terrorist being celebrated by the Pak military in the background. That's not the narrative the Pakistanis give. That's not the narrative that the US knows," he said."THIS is the narrative the world should know."Ranveer Allahbadia holds up a picture of Osama Bin Laden during Piers Morgan's debate on the ceasefire with in fullhttps:// | @BeerBicepsGuy | @BDUTT Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) May 12, 2025advertisementFurther, he spoke about India's Operation Sindoor and said "India's strikes were precision-oriented, moderate and most importantly, they were simply retaliation as they have always been.""India has never been an aggressor. 'We export vaccines, philosophy, engineers and leaders to the world – which is why our economy is eleven times the economy of the Pakistani narrative of India trying to gain sympathy from the world, he asked, 'Piers, my question is to you. You've seen the objective facts and figures. What do you feel about this situation?''The world only knows this person (Osama bin Laden) India has a list of people like him' Allahbadia ended his remarks with this powerful statement, 'I have no narrative other than the one the world should know.'ALLAHBADIA ON DELETED POSTOn the show, he was also asked about a now-deleted post where he termed Pakistanis as brothers and sisters and said he does not have hate for them. The post came after the terror attack in Pahalgam which claimed 26 lives.'Why did you delete this post?' Morgan replied, 'I deleted it because Pakistan had just broken the ceasefire and gave us another reason to not trust the entire state once again. Even if you try to have a conversatation with Pakistan, it responds with 'where's the proof of the Pahalgam attack?''advertisement'My question is, have you studied what the world is saying about your country (Pakistan)? Have you seen the economy of your country?,' he added.'It's very important to understand that the Indian armed forces simply retaliated to the action of the Pakistanis. I have no narrative other than the one the world should know,' he said.'We are combatting terrorism and Pakistan exports terrorism. We are protecting our civilians, but truth be told, we are protecting humanity. Pakistan has become the terror-hub of the world. This is not an Indian narrative, this is the narrative that the world should know,' Allahbadia said in conclusion.
Express Tribune
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Offline across borders
On an ordinary April morning, Shehzad Ghias, a Pakistani comedian and political commentator, opened his inbox to a message that would thrust him into the heart of a geopolitical standoff. His YouTube channel, The Pakistan Experience, had been blocked in India. No warning. No context. Just silence, except, of course, from the Indian government, which days earlier had banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets like Geo News and ARY, as well as independent creators, for allegedly spreading 'anti-India propaganda' in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Pakistan hit back a few days later, blocking 16 Indian YouTube channels and more than 30 websites. Officials said the move was in response to misinformation, but for most people watching from the sidelines, it felt like a digital tit-for-tat. The impact was immediate. Audiences on both sides suddenly found channels they followed for years, news, commentary, even comedy, just gone. For creators, it was worse. Viewership dropped overnight. So did ad revenue. Some had built their platforms over years, video by video, only to be cut off from a huge part of their audience in a matter of hours. And just like that, another fragile bridge between India and Pakistan, one that the internet had quietly held up, was gone. What's unfolding now is more than a tech policy spat. It's a chilling glimpse into the future of digital expression in South Asia, where creators risk becoming collateral in state-led campaigns of narrative control, and platforms like YouTube quietly bow to political pressure. As bans tighten and borders extend into cyberspace, the open web promised to this region is beginning to splinter, one takedown at a time. The ban explained The Indian government didn't hold back. Days after the April 22 terror attack, India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a sweeping order. Sixteen Pakistani YouTube channels were to be blocked across Indian territory. The official reasoning? The channels were accused of spreading 'fake news, anti-India propaganda, and content detrimental to national security.' It wasn't the first time India had pulled the plug on cross-border content, but it was, by far, the most high-profile. Among the banned were some of Pakistan's biggest names in mainstream media. Geo News, ARY News, Samaa TV, GNN and Dawn News all made the list. But it wasn't just the news giants. Individual creators and digital-first platforms were targeted too. The list included Shoaib Akhtar's cricket channel, the political podcast 'The Pakistan Experience', satire-driven commentary from CBA (Comics by Arslan), and a few lesser-known but fast-growing digital voices. The move sent a clear signal — no channel was too big or too niche to be blocked. India's stance was firm. The content in question, authorities said, was harmful to public order and had the potential to incite communal unrest. Much of it, they claimed, painted a distorted picture of events in Kashmir, India's internal security situation, and foreign policy. While India's information ministry didn't go into the specifics of each channel's alleged violations, the language used left little room for interpretation. In their view, these channels were a threat, digitally armed with narratives that didn't align with New Delhi's version of events. This wasn't new territory for India. Back in 2022, the government blocked 35 Pakistan-based YouTube channels in one go. The reasoning then was similar, misinformation, threats to sovereignty, and manipulation of Indian audiences. At the time, many of the channels had relatively small followings. This time, though, the stakes were much higher. Several of the blocked channels had large Indian audiences, some reaching into the millions. Their removal wasn't just symbolic, it disrupted an entire ecosystem of regional storytelling, commentary and online exchange. For the creators, the ban came like a rug pulled out from under them. There was no advance notice, no strike warnings, no appeals process. One day they were live across South Asia, the next day they were gone from India's digital landscape. Traffic dropped instantly. Monetization took a hit, especially for those who relied on Indian ad impressions. Even audience interaction slowed down as viewers from across the border vanished overnight. Some creators, like Shehzad Ghias, took it in stride, with sarcasm, frustration, and a touch of resignation. Others, particularly in the news industry, saw it as part of a broader trend where governments are increasingly controlling who gets to speak and who gets to listen. There's also a growing sense that platforms like YouTube are walking a fine line. While they technically follow local laws, they're rarely transparent about how takedown requests are handled or whether content actually violates their community standards. What's clear is that the aftermath of this ban isn't just about numbers or lost views. It's about silencing voices that were already working on the margins. It's about cutting off one of the last few spaces where Indians and Pakistanis could hear each other without filters, anchors or agendas. And in the current climate, that silence speaks volumes. Voices from the shadows For Ghias, the news came via email. A short note from YouTube telling him that his podcast, The Pakistan Experience, had been blocked in India. He read it, laughed out loud, and shook his head. 'I never thought I'd be banned by the Indian government before the Pakistani one,' he said while laughing. 'It was even more amusing to see the initial list of 16 banned channels, it had Pakistan's mainstream news channels along with our little podcast channel.' But once the joke faded, the reality set in. About 30 percent of his audience came from India. That's a big chunk. 'I am guessing we will not lose most of them, they will still watch using VPNs,' he added. But that connection, being accessible without any barriers, is now gone. The ban hit more than just numbers. Creators like Shehzad aren't just chasing views. They're building communities, trying to create space for honest, critical conversations, something mainstream platforms often avoid. When a country as big as India cuts off that access, it narrows the conversation. 'If the truth is a threat to someone,' he said, 'then the problem lies with them.' To Shehzad, this wasn't about national security. It was censorship, clear and simple. 'Calling our channel a national security risk for India is nothing short of a joke,' he said. That's the part that stings for many creators - the silencing. For years, YouTube had allowed a space, however messy or unpredictable, for cross-border engagement. Pakistanis and Indians argued, laughed, agreed, disagreed, but they listened to each other. Now that space is shrinking. Shehzad believes this isn't going to stop political commentary. 'Commentators in Pakistan make videos with the ever-looming threat of a Black Vigo, a ban in India is unlikely to deter them.' But he admits the message is loud and clear. 'Repression is used around the world to silence critical voices, and to signal to others to fall in line, those who truly believe in what they say continue on despite the hurdles.' The ban has also exposed the double standards of global platforms. Shehzad doesn't expect YouTube to fight back. 'Big tech will always follow the money,' he said. 'To expect YouTube to side with the freedoms of a few content creators of the might of the Indian Economy is naive in my opinion.' According to him, platforms have made peace with the idea that they'll say one thing about freedom of expression and do another when a government comes knocking. Still, what hurts more than the algorithm or the analytics is the sense of being cut off. 'The jingoism that you now see on mainstream Indian news shows why the Indian Government might have severed their population from critical voices from Pakistan,' Shehzad said. 'If Indian audiences were exposed to what we were saying they might be less likely to believe in every piece of propaganda put forward by the far-right Indian media.' He isn't alone in that thinking. Many digital creators in Pakistan believe that while politicians build fences, they had been quietly breaking them, through stories, podcasts, comedy, cricket banter. Now it feels like the internet itself is being carved up into territories. Shehzad isn't changing his content. He won't soften his tone. But the ban has forced him, and others, to rethink what it means to operate in a region where one takedown can wipe out years of work. Cross-border digital tensions While creators like Shehzad are directly impacted by the ban, the ripple effects go far beyond subscriber counts and video views. The situation points to a much larger problem, one that has to do with how states are trying to redraw borders on the internet, and how tech platforms are quietly letting it happen. Asad Baig, Executive Director and founder of Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD), has been watching this space for years. For him, India's move to block 16 Pakistani YouTube channels isn't just another policy decision. It's something deeper. 'India is setting a deeply problematic precedent by using regulatory powers to silence cross-border speech,' he said. 'These actions represent a shift from democratic digital governance to a securitised model of internet control. Blocking entire channels suggests an unwillingness to engage with pluralistic discourse. This doesn't just harm creators in Pakistan; it restricts Indian audiences from accessing diverse regional perspectives, especially around conflict and diplomacy.' According to Baig, this doesn't only hurt Pakistani creators, it affects Indian audiences too. By cutting off these channels, India is creating 'an act of information isolation, not protection.' It limits the kinds of perspectives Indian viewers are exposed to, especially on issues like Kashmir, foreign policy, and diplomacy. This approach, he added, shows an unwillingness to engage with pluralistic discourse. And it's not just about governments. The platforms themselves are complicit. 'YouTube and others often defer to local legal frameworks, even when those frameworks are being used to suppress free expression,' Baig said. What's worse, he explained, is the lack of transparency. 'The compliance is usually opaque. Platforms rarely clarify the legal grounds or whether content violates platform policies.' He believes that in high-growth markets like India, where political pressure runs high, platforms tend to over-comply. 'In India's case, where freedom of expression is increasingly under strain, platforms have a responsibility to apply higher scrutiny, particularly when the takedowns target journalistic or political content. Unfortunately, platforms tend to over-comply in high-growth markets like India, prioritising access to user bases over rights,' he said. And this is where the situation becomes dangerous, not just for Pakistanis, but for the broader digital region. 'India's bans may embolden similar retaliatory actions from other states,' Baig said. 'It shifts content moderation from a question of community safety to one of nationalistic control.' And that, he warned, is already creating a chilling effect for independent voices on both sides of the border. He didn't hold back on what platforms like YouTube should be doing either. 'YouTube must be held to a far higher standard of transparency in politically sensitive contexts,' Baig said. At the very least, he believes, they should disclose when content has been blocked due to government requests, clearly state the legal justifications, and differentiate these from violations of community guidelines. 'Without this, platforms become silent enablers of Indian state censorship.' And for Pakistani creators, he had a message — don't rely on a single platform. 'Creators must understand that platform policies and geopolitical trends increasingly overlap,' he said. His advice? Diversify. 'Explore other platforms, email newsletters, even independent hosting.' More importantly, he urged creators to document what's happening. 'They should build solidarity with regional and international digital rights networks. It's no longer enough to produce content, you have to defend your right to be seen.' Baig also pointed out the elephant in the room, Pakistan's own history of banning Indian content. While not defending the tit-for-tat, he put it in context. 'While blocking content is never an ideal solution, it's important to recognise who set this precedent,' he said. 'India has aggressively used its regulatory powers to censor Pakistani news and independent voices across platforms. Pakistan's response, while not commendable in itself, is clearly reactive, maybe even seen as a defensive measure in an increasingly hostile digital environment shaped by India's actions.' He stressed that this escalation didn't happen in a vacuum. 'India, as a much larger digital market and regional power, bears significant responsibility for triggering this race to the bottom.' What's needed now, he said, isn't more mutual censorship. 'India needs to step back from its hyper-nationalist digital posture and re-commit to regional openness and informational exchange. And Pakistan shouldn't follow the same flawed logic introduced by India.' In the end, Baig said this fight isn't just about India or Pakistan, it's about the future of the internet in South Asia. 'What's at stake is whether platforms like YouTube can uphold any consistent standard of rights across jurisdictions or whether they'll bend entirely to political pressure,' he said. 'If companies don't step up, the internet in South Asia could become a fragmented, platform-controlled patchwork, unrecognisable from the open web we were promised.' What lies ahead This isn't just about blocked videos or regional rivalries playing out online. What's happening now feels like a shift. The internet, once imagined as a space where borders mattered less, is slowly starting to mirror the political divides on the ground. And for creators, audiences, and even tech platforms, that shift is becoming harder to ignore. For Pakistani YouTubers, the ban isn't just a content issue, it's personal. Their stories, opinions, and creative work are no longer reaching a massive audience that once engaged with them freely. For Indian viewers, it means being cut off from perspectives they may not always agree with, but that were part of a much-needed regional dialogue. The ban also raises tough questions for platforms like YouTube. Can they really call themselves champions of free speech if they quietly give in to political pressure every time a government pushes back? If a creator's visibility can be erased overnight because a country doesn't like what they say, then what kind of internet are we building? And what about the viewers, the millions who tuned in not for politics but for shared laughs, cricket commentary, or longform conversations about society and life on the other side of the border? They've lost something too. A small but meaningful connection that survived despite history, headlines, and hostilities. What's clear is this. The more governments turn the internet into a battleground, the more it loses the openness that once made it powerful. And while creators like Shehzad continue speaking up, and experts like Asad call out the system, it's hard not to feel that something important is slipping away. But not all hope is lost. People are still watching through VPNs. Conversations are still happening in smaller corners of the web. Creators are finding new platforms, new ways to reach out. Because the truth is, while states may try to silence voices, stories have a way of finding their way through. The question now is, who gets to decide what we hear, and who we hear it from? And maybe more importantly, who's still listening?
News18
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir Among Pakistani Actors Whose Instagram Accounts Blocked In India
Last Updated: The move follows the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and is being linked to national security measures. Instagram accounts of several top Pakistani actors, including Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir and Sajal Aly, have been blocked in India. The move follows the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and is being linked to national security measures. Indian users trying to access the accounts are met with a message saying: 'Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content." Other celebrities affected by the action include Ali Zafar, Ayeza Khan, Sanam Saeed, Maya Ali, and Iqra Aziz Hussain. These actors, widely popular among Indian audiences for their performances and social media presence, are no longer visible to millions of followers in the country. However, the Instagram handles of Fawad Khan and Fahad Mustafa were still accessible at the time of reporting, as were those of Saba Qamar Zaman, Yumna Zaidi, Mehwish Hayat and Urwa Hocane. In addition to individual accounts, popular Pakistani drama channels like Hum TV and ARY Digital have also reportedly been restricted on platforms such as YouTube in India. This development comes days after the Indian government blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, which collectively had over 63 million subscribers. These included media outlets like Dawn, Geo News, Bol News, and Samaa TV, along with popular individual creators such as journalist Asma Shirazi and digital show The Pakistan Experience. Government sources cited concerns over content that was deemed inflammatory, misleading or potentially disruptive to India's national harmony. Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir and Fawad Khan remain among the most followed Pakistani celebrities in India. On April 22, armed terrorists unleashed horror by opening fire at tourists in Kashmir's iconic Pahalgam. The wives and other relatives of those killed in the attack later revealed to the media that the terrorists asked the names and the faith of tourists before shooting them dead. They also reportedly asked those who said they belonged to the Muslim community to recite the Kalma. The terrorists shot dead those who said they were Hindus, and left their relatives, especially women, asking them to narrate the ordeal to the government. The attack claimed the lives of 26 tourists, including one Nepali national. First Published:
