<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi today noted the commonality in the objectives of India and the US to eradicate terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.</p>

<p>He noted this in the context of US President Donald Trump&#39;s new South Asia policy, according to a PMO statement.</p>

<p>The prime minister&#39;s observations came when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on him here this afternoon, the statement said.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/tillerson-too-many-terror-groups-finding-safe-haven-in-pak-threatening-stability-of-govt-22888" target="_blank">Also read: Too many terror groups finding safe haven in Pak -- that threatens stability of govt, says Tillerson</a></p>

<p>Tillerson exchanged with Modi views on his recent travels in the region.</p>

<p>&quot;They further discussed stepping up effective cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and promoting regional stability and security,&quot; the PMO statement said.</p>

<p>Welcoming Tillerson on his maiden visit to India in his current capacity, Modi noted with appreciation the &quot;firm upward trajectory&quot; in the bilateral strategic partnership following the &quot;positive and far-reaching&quot; talks with Trump in June this year, the statement said.</p>

<p>The prime minister shared the resolve expressed by Tillerson on taking further steps in the direction of accelerating and strengthening the content, pace and scope of the bilateral engagement, it said.</p>

<p>Modi and Tillerson affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Tillerson held detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.&nbsp;</p>


Another shared goal, said Modi, was bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today noted the commonality in the objectives of India and the US to eradicate terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan. He noted this in the context of US President Donald Trump's new South Asia policy, according to a PMO statement. The prime minister's observations came when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on him here this afternoon, the statement said. Also read: Too many terror groups finding safe haven in Pak -- that threatens stability of govt, says Tillerson Tillerson exchanged with Modi views on his recent travels in the region. "They further discussed stepping up effective cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and promoting regional stability and security," the PMO statement said. Welcoming Tillerson on his maiden visit to India in his current capacity, Modi noted with appreciation the "firm upward trajectory" in the bilateral strategic partnership following the "positive and far-reaching" talks with Trump in June this year, the statement said. The prime minister shared the resolve expressed by Tillerson on taking further steps in the direction of accelerating and strengthening the content, pace and scope of the bilateral engagement, it said. Modi and Tillerson affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity. Earlier in the day, Tillerson held detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Modi meets Tillerson, says India & US share objective of eradicating terror

<p>Rahul Gandhi had on Monday at his rally in Gandhinagar, Gujarat dubbed the GST &quot;Gabbar Singh Tax&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Tuesday he took his formulation to Twitter, and then added some.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He first wrote Congress GST = Good and Simple Tax.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Then, Modiji GST = Gabbar Singh Tax.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And then added his coup de grace: Gabbar Singh Tax = Yeh Kamai Mujhe de de.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congress GST= Genuine Simple Tax<br />
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Modi ji&#39;s GST= Gabbar Singh Tax =&#39;&#39;?? ???? ???? ?? ??&quot;</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/922695603380879360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Twitterati quickly took up the cue:&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What&rsquo;s your full form of GST?</p>
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<p>And the answers poured in, including from former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Greatly Screwed-up Tax</p>
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<p>And Shashi Tharoor:&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">GST being translated increasingly as Gayi Sarkar Tumhari! great idea ruined by wretched implementation <a href="https://t.co/ExBhNY351T">pic.twitter.com/ExBhNY351T</a></p>
&mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/922757994219167744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Go Sell Tea</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Gayi Sarkar Tumhari</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Ghoom Saariduniya Tax</p>
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<p>GST and demonetisation are being blamed for the current state of the Indian economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And with Gujarat and Himachal going to the polls soon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have been trying to put some distance between them and the tax.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi has of late been saying GST was first the Congress&#39;s idea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress of course has been trying to do the opposite -- lay the blame squarely at the BJP&#39;s door.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


After Rahul Gandhi posted his formulation on Twitter, the Twitterati quickly took his cue

Rahul Gandhi had on Monday at his rally in Gandhinagar, Gujarat dubbed the GST "Gabbar Singh Tax". On Tuesday he took his formulation to Twitter, and then added some. He first wrote Congress GST = Good and Simple Tax. Then, Modiji GST = Gabbar Singh Tax. And then added his coup de grace: Gabbar Singh Tax = Yeh Kamai Mujhe de de. Congress GST= Genuine Simple Tax Modi ji's GST= Gabbar Singh Tax =''?? ???? ???? ?? ??" — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 24, 2017 × The Twitterati quickly took up the cue: What’s your full form of GST? — History of India (@RealHistoryPic) October 23, 2017 × And the answers poured in, including from former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah: Greatly Screwed-up Tax — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 23, 2017 × And Shashi Tharoor: GST being translated increasingly as Gayi Sarkar Tumhari! great idea ruined by wretched implementation pic.twitter.com/ExBhNY351T — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 24, 2017 × Go Sell Tea — Uday Menon (@Uday47) October 23, 2017 × Gayi Sarkar Tumhari — Rachit Seth (@rachitseth) October 23, 2017 × Ghoom Saariduniya Tax — Razi (@raz0212) October 23, 2017 × GST and demonetisation are being blamed for the current state of the Indian economy. And with Gujarat and Himachal going to the polls soon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have been trying to put some distance between them and the tax. Modi has of late been saying GST was first the Congress's idea. The Congress of course has been trying to do the opposite -- lay the blame squarely at the BJP's door.

'Yeh kamai mujhe de de,' says Rahul after calling GST 'Gabbar Singh Tax'

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to &quot;interfere&quot;&nbsp;in the Tamil film &quot;Mersal&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan had on Friday asked for a scene to be removed from the film.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scene mentioned what Radhakrishnan called &quot;untruths&quot; about the Goods and Services Tax rolled out by the BJP-led NDA government on July 1.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The film producer should remove the untruths regarding the GST from the film,&quot; PTI quoted Radhakrishnan as having said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scene soon went viral on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Watch the&nbsp;</em><em>scene</em><em> below:&nbsp;</em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Scene that North Korean President Kim Jong-Un wants to delete from the Movie &quot;Mersal&quot;. (2017) <a href="https://t.co/suBoE1s0ea">pic.twitter.com/suBoE1s0ea</a></p>
&mdash; History of India (@RealHistoryPic) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealHistoryPic/status/921581172085334017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Mr Modi, Cinema is a deep expression of Tamil culture and language. Don&#39;t try to demon-etise Tamil pride by interfering in Mersal,&quot; Gandhi said in a tweet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The jibe was taken up by former fianance minister P Chidambaram.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;BJP demands deletion of dialogues in &#39;Mersal&#39;. Imagine the consequences if &#39;Parasakthi&#39; was released today,&quot; Chidambaram tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP demands deletion of dialogues in &#39;Mersal&#39;. Imagine the consequences if &#39;Parasakthi&#39; was released today.</p>
&mdash; P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) <a href="https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/921568357874393088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Parasakthi was a 1952 Tamil film critical of Brahmanism.</p>

<p>The movie was written by M Karunanidhi, who later went on to become chief minister of Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government&#39;s policies.</p>
&mdash; P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) <a href="https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/921568445526888448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government&#39;s policies,&#39; Chidambaram further tweeted.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The movie Mersal, starring the popular Tamil actor Vijay, contains a scene which says unflattering things about the Goods and Services Tax

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to "interfere" in the Tamil film "Mersal". Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan had on Friday asked for a scene to be removed from the film. The scene mentioned what Radhakrishnan called "untruths" about the Goods and Services Tax rolled out by the BJP-led NDA government on July 1. "The film producer should remove the untruths regarding the GST from the film," PTI quoted Radhakrishnan as having said. The scene soon went viral on social media. Watch the scene below: Scene that North Korean President Kim Jong-Un wants to delete from the Movie "Mersal". (2017) pic.twitter.com/suBoE1s0ea — History of India (@RealHistoryPic) October 21, 2017 × "Mr Modi, Cinema is a deep expression of Tamil culture and language. Don't try to demon-etise Tamil pride by interfering in Mersal," Gandhi said in a tweet. The jibe was taken up by former fianance minister P Chidambaram. "BJP demands deletion of dialogues in 'Mersal'. Imagine the consequences if 'Parasakthi' was released today," Chidambaram tweeted. BJP demands deletion of dialogues in 'Mersal'. Imagine the consequences if 'Parasakthi' was released today. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 21, 2017 × Parasakthi was a 1952 Tamil film critical of Brahmanism. The movie was written by M Karunanidhi, who later went on to become chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government's policies. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 21, 2017 × "Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government's policies,' Chidambaram further tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi: Mr Modi, don't try to 'demon-etise' Tamil pride by interfering in movie Mersal

<p>The actor Kamal Haasan has apologised for supporting demonetisation &quot;in a hurry&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The apology came in the form of an article in the Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan, India Today reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The article was headlined &quot;A big apology&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In it, Haasan wrote, &nbsp;&quot;I owe it to the people to apologise for supporting the plan in a hurry.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haasan had, back when demonetisation was announced on November 8, 2016, tweeted in support of the move.&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Haasan wrote that the sign of a good leader is that he or she can accept his or her mistake.&nbsp;And that &#39;If the Prime Minister accepts his mistake without being adamant, one more salaam is waiting for him from me&#39;</h5>
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<p>In his article, he wrote that he had thought it would rid the country of black money, and that people should put up with the little inconveniences that might arise from the move.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Many of my comrades and some people who understand economics called me and criticised me for my views. Later I consoled myself, saying that while the plan was good, there may have been some problems with implementation,&quot; India Today reported him as writing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haasan added that when more economists spoke out against demonetisation, he told himself the intention may have been good but that the plan itself was not practical.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Then, said Haasan, with even more critics opposing demonetisation, he was filled with doubt since the government seemed to have no answer to the criticism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haasan then said the sign of a good leader is that he or she can accept his or her mistake.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Gandhi was able to do it, today also it is possible,&quot;&nbsp;India Today reported the actor as writing. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>And that &quot;If the Prime Minister accepts his mistake without being adamant, one more salaam is waiting for him from me.&quot;</p>


The apology came in the form of an article in the Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan

The actor Kamal Haasan has apologised for supporting demonetisation "in a hurry". The apology came in the form of an article in the Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan, India Today reported. The article was headlined "A big apology". In it, Haasan wrote, "I owe it to the people to apologise for supporting the plan in a hurry." Haasan had, back when demonetisation was announced on November 8, 2016, tweeted in support of the move. Haasan wrote that the sign of a good leader is that he or she can accept his or her mistake. And that 'If the Prime Minister accepts his mistake without being adamant, one more salaam is waiting for him from me' × In his article, he wrote that he had thought it would rid the country of black money, and that people should put up with the little inconveniences that might arise from the move. "Many of my comrades and some people who understand economics called me and criticised me for my views. Later I consoled myself, saying that while the plan was good, there may have been some problems with implementation," India Today reported him as writing. Haasan added that when more economists spoke out against demonetisation, he told himself the intention may have been good but that the plan itself was not practical. Then, said Haasan, with even more critics opposing demonetisation, he was filled with doubt since the government seemed to have no answer to the criticism. Haasan then said the sign of a good leader is that he or she can accept his or her mistake. "Gandhi was able to do it, today also it is possible," India Today reported the actor as writing. And that "If the Prime Minister accepts his mistake without being adamant, one more salaam is waiting for him from me."

Kamal Haasan apologises for supporting demonetisation 'in a hurry'

<p>The Congress&#39;s Sunil Jakhar has won the Gurdaspur bypoll by close to two lakh votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP came in second, and the AAP third.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="in">Punjab: Congress&#39;s Sunil Jakhar wins <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll</a> by 1,93,219 votes <a href="https://t.co/rZMlF9qTvX">pic.twitter.com/rZMlF9qTvX</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/919461034070380544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Punjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Punjab</a> Congress: 4,99,752, BJP 3,06,533, AAP 23,579 votes.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/919472565852049408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Counting began this morning. The bypoll -- necessitated by the death of the BJP&#39;s Vinod Khanna -- took place on October 11.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Punjab: Congress workers and leaders celebrate as party leads by more than 1 lakh votes in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll</a> <a href="https://t.co/gYlPec5EKG">pic.twitter.com/gYlPec5EKG</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/919444598396559360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Gurdaspur bypoll is being seen as a referendum on Punjab&#39;s six-month-old Congress government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jakhar himself had billed the bypoll as a referendum on the Narendra&nbsp;Modi-led government at the Centre and its policies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;People of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modiji-led Centre,&quot; ANI reported Jakhar as saying.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ppl of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modi Ji led Centre: Sunil Jakhar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GurdaspurByPoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GurdaspurByPoll</a> <a href="https://t.co/6JMxqdHK0k">pic.twitter.com/6JMxqdHK0k</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/919440515371696134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;This is a beautiful Diwali gift, packed with a red ribbon, for our would-be party president Rahul Gandhi,&quot; ANI reported Navjot Sidhu, who recently joined the Congress from the BJP, as saying.&nbsp;</p>


The Congress's Sunil Jakhar has won the Gurdaspur bypoll by close to two lakh votes. The BJP came in second, and the AAP third. Punjab: Congress's Sunil Jakhar wins #GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll by 1,93,219 votes pic.twitter.com/rZMlF9qTvX — ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017 × #Punjab Congress: 4,99,752, BJP 3,06,533, AAP 23,579 votes.#GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll — ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017 × Counting began this morning. The bypoll -- necessitated by the death of the BJP's Vinod Khanna -- took place on October 11. Punjab: Congress workers and leaders celebrate as party leads by more than 1 lakh votes in #GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll pic.twitter.com/gYlPec5EKG — ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017 × The Gurdaspur bypoll is being seen as a referendum on Punjab's six-month-old Congress government. Jakhar himself had billed the bypoll as a referendum on the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and its policies. "People of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modiji-led Centre," ANI reported Jakhar as saying. Ppl of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modi Ji led Centre: Sunil Jakhar #GurdaspurByPoll pic.twitter.com/6JMxqdHK0k — ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017 × "This is a beautiful Diwali gift, packed with a red ribbon, for our would-be party president Rahul Gandhi," ANI reported Navjot Sidhu, who recently joined the Congress from the BJP, as saying.

Gurdaspur bypoll: Congress's Sunil Jakhar wins, says voters have rejected PM Modi's policies

<p>A big global corporate voice, the Indian-origin CEO of the US-based payments company Mastercard, Ajaypal Singh Banga, has come out in defence of the Indian government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Banga told WION that one or two quarters of slow economic growth should not impact the pace of reforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Banga&#39;s comments come at a time when some of the Indian government&#39;s measures -- demonetisation and the goods and services tax -- have come under severe criticism, and are being blamed for slowing down the economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Banga also hailed the reforms undertaken by previous governments, but said the pace of reforms under the current establishment has been quicker. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;India is going through an exciting phase. FDI, GDP, foreign reserves have gone up in the last two decades,&quot; he said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Digitisation will give the next boost to the Indian economy,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Change has actually accelerated in the last two years,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>


Banga told WION that one or two quarters of slow economic growth should not impact the pace of reforms.?

A big global corporate voice, the Indian-origin CEO of the US-based payments company Mastercard, Ajaypal Singh Banga, has come out in defence of the Indian government. Banga told WION that one or two quarters of slow economic growth should not impact the pace of reforms. Banga's comments come at a time when some of the Indian government's measures -- demonetisation and the goods and services tax -- have come under severe criticism, and are being blamed for slowing down the economy. Banga also hailed the reforms undertaken by previous governments, but said the pace of reforms under the current establishment has been quicker. "India is going through an exciting phase. FDI, GDP, foreign reserves have gone up in the last two decades," he said. "Digitisation will give the next boost to the Indian economy," he said. "Change has actually accelerated in the last two years," he added.

WATCH: Not concerned by slowdown in Indian economy, says Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga

<p>Three months after the rollout of the new indirect tax regime, the GST Council today made sweeping changes to give relief to small and medium businesses on filing and payment of taxes, eased rules for exporters and cut tax rates on more than two dozen items.</p>

<p>Businesses with annual turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore, which constitute 90 per cent of the taxpayer base but pay only 5-6 per cent of total tax, have been allowed to file quarterly income returns and pay tax instead of the current provision of monthly filings.</p>

<p>Also, the turnover threshold for businesses to avail of the composition scheme that allows them to pay 1-5 per cent tax without going through tedious formalities, was raised to Rs 1 crore from current Rs 75 lakh.</p>

<p>&quot;Compliance burden of medium and small taxpayers in GST is being reduced,&quot; Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after the 22nd meeting of the Council.</p>

<p>Small and medium enterprises had complained of tedious compliance burden under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that was supposed to be a simple indirect tax regime which replaced over a dozen Central and state taxes.</p>

<p>Jaitley said the Council also decided to cut GST rate on 27 common use items.</p>

<p>GST on unbranded namkeen, unbranded ayurvedic medicine, sliced dried mango and khakra has been cut to 5 per cent from 12 per cent, while the same on man-made yarn used in textile sector has been reduced to 12 per cent from 18 per cent.</p>

<p>Tax on stationery items, stones used for flooring (other than marble and granite), diesel engine parts and pump parts has been cut to 18 per cent from 28 per cent. GST on e-waste has been slashed to 5 per cent from 28 per cent.</p>

<p>Food packets given to school kids under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) will attract 5 per cent tax instead of 12 per cent.</p>

<p>Job works like zari, imitation, food items and printing items would attract 5 per cent tax instead of 12 per cent. Government contracts involving high amount of labour will be levied 5 per cent GST instead of 12 per cent in order to contain cost of those programmes, he said.</p>

<p>Exporters, who have been facing sluggish growth due to global slowdown, will get refunds for the tax paid by them on exports during July and August by October 18, he said.</p>

<p>For the remainder of the fiscal, they will operate under an exempted category paying a nominal 0.1 per cent GST, he said, adding from April 1 attempt would be made to launch an e-wallet facility for the exporters to provide liquidity.</p>

<p>Jaitley said big taxpayers, who contribute 94-95 per cent of the total taxes, will continue to file monthly returns and pay taxes on a monthly basis.</p>

<p>Also, a group of ministers has been asked to go into the issue of extending the composition scheme on inter-state sales as well as rationalising taxes on restaurants.</p>

<p>The switchover to quarterly tax filing for small and medium businesses would happen from October 1 and they will have to file monthly returns for the first three months of GST, which was implemented from July 1, he said.</p>

<p>With small businesses and traders complaining about the compliance burden the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime has put on them, the panel decided to give the option to taxpayers to avail of the so-called Composition Scheme if their turnover is less than Rs 1 crore as against the previous limit of Rs 75 lakh.</p>

<p>So far, over 15 lakh out of the 90 lakh registered businesses have opted for the composition scheme.</p>

<p>The tax rate for traders of goods in the composition scheme is 1 per cent, while it is 2 per cent for manufacturers and 5 per cent for suppliers of food or drinks for human consumption (without alcohol).</p>

<p>Service providers cannot opt for the composition scheme.</p>

<p>The scheme allows small businesses, including eateries, to pay 1-5 percent tax without having to deal with the three- stage filing process.</p>

<p>It allows small taxpayers to pay GST at a fixed rate of turnover and not go through the tedious GST formalities.</p>

<p>The scheme cannot be opted by supplier of services other than restaurant related services; manufacturer of ice cream, pan masala, or tobacco; casual taxable person or a non- resident taxable person; and businesses which supply goods through an e-commerce operator.</p>

<p>No input tax credit can be claimed by those opting for composition scheme.</p>

<p>Also, the taxpayer can only make intra-state supply (sell in the same state) and cannot undertake inter-state supply of goods. PTI&nbsp;</p>


Small & medium traders, those with annual turnovers of less than Rs 1.5 crore, were earlier expected to file monthly returns

Three months after the rollout of the new indirect tax regime, the GST Council today made sweeping changes to give relief to small and medium businesses on filing and payment of taxes, eased rules for exporters and cut tax rates on more than two dozen items. Businesses with annual turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore, which constitute 90 per cent of the taxpayer base but pay only 5-6 per cent of total tax, have been allowed to file quarterly income returns and pay tax instead of the current provision of monthly filings. Also, the turnover threshold for businesses to avail of the composition scheme that allows them to pay 1-5 per cent tax without going through tedious formalities, was raised to Rs 1 crore from current Rs 75 lakh. "Compliance burden of medium and small taxpayers in GST is being reduced," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after the 22nd meeting of the Council. Small and medium enterprises had complained of tedious compliance burden under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that was supposed to be a simple indirect tax regime which replaced over a dozen Central and state taxes. Jaitley said the Council also decided to cut GST rate on 27 common use items. GST on unbranded namkeen, unbranded ayurvedic medicine, sliced dried mango and khakra has been cut to 5 per cent from 12 per cent, while the same on man-made yarn used in textile sector has been reduced to 12 per cent from 18 per cent. Tax on stationery items, stones used for flooring (other than marble and granite), diesel engine parts and pump parts has been cut to 18 per cent from 28 per cent. GST on e-waste has been slashed to 5 per cent from 28 per cent. Food packets given to school kids under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) will attract 5 per cent tax instead of 12 per cent. Job works like zari, imitation, food items and printing items would attract 5 per cent tax instead of 12 per cent. Government contracts involving high amount of labour will be levied 5 per cent GST instead of 12 per cent in order to contain cost of those programmes, he said. Exporters, who have been facing sluggish growth due to global slowdown, will get refunds for the tax paid by them on exports during July and August by October 18, he said. For the remainder of the fiscal, they will operate under an exempted category paying a nominal 0.1 per cent GST, he said, adding from April 1 attempt would be made to launch an e-wallet facility for the exporters to provide liquidity. Jaitley said big taxpayers, who contribute 94-95 per cent of the total taxes, will continue to file monthly returns and pay taxes on a monthly basis. Also, a group of ministers has been asked to go into the issue of extending the composition scheme on inter-state sales as well as rationalising taxes on restaurants. The switchover to quarterly tax filing for small and medium businesses would happen from October 1 and they will have to file monthly returns for the first three months of GST, which was implemented from July 1, he said. With small businesses and traders complaining about the compliance burden the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime has put on them, the panel decided to give the option to taxpayers to avail of the so-called Composition Scheme if their turnover is less than Rs 1 crore as against the previous limit of Rs 75 lakh. So far, over 15 lakh out of the 90 lakh registered businesses have opted for the composition scheme. The tax rate for traders of goods in the composition scheme is 1 per cent, while it is 2 per cent for manufacturers and 5 per cent for suppliers of food or drinks for human consumption (without alcohol). Service providers cannot opt for the composition scheme. The scheme allows small businesses, including eateries, to pay 1-5 percent tax without having to deal with the three- stage filing process. It allows small taxpayers to pay GST at a fixed rate of turnover and not go through the tedious GST formalities. The scheme cannot be opted by supplier of services other than restaurant related services; manufacturer of ice cream, pan masala, or tobacco; casual taxable person or a non- resident taxable person; and businesses which supply goods through an e-commerce operator. No input tax credit can be claimed by those opting for composition scheme. Also, the taxpayer can only make intra-state supply (sell in the same state) and cannot undertake inter-state supply of goods. PTI

GST rates on 27 items cut, exporters get relief, small & medium traders to file quarterly returns

<p>A case has been registered against actor Prakash Raj in a Lucknow Court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The complaint against Raj had been filed by a lawyer over the actor&#39;s remarks on PM Modi.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Case registered against actor Prakash Raj in a Lucknow Court on complaint by a lawyer over his remarks on PM Modi; Case to be heard on 7 Oct</p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/915531606164566016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>ANI reported that the case will be heard on October 7.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Raj had slammed the PM&#39;s silence over the killing of Gauri Lankesh, and the fact that the prime minister continued to follow some people on social media who had celebrated Lankesh&#39;s killing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Raj had said the PM was a better actor than him, and that he should maybe therefore give the acting awards he had won to the prime minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/prakash-raj-calls-modi-a-better-actor-over-his-silence-on-gauri-lankeshs-murder-20932" target="_blank">Also read: &#39;PM Modi better actor than me,&#39; says actor Prakash Raj</a></p>


The complaint against Raj was filed by a lawyer over the actor's remarks on PM Modi

A case has been registered against actor Prakash Raj in a Lucknow Court. The complaint against Raj had been filed by a lawyer over the actor's remarks on PM Modi. Case registered against actor Prakash Raj in a Lucknow Court on complaint by a lawyer over his remarks on PM Modi; Case to be heard on 7 Oct — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 4, 2017 × ANI reported that the case will be heard on October 7. Raj had slammed the PM's silence over the killing of Gauri Lankesh, and the fact that the prime minister continued to follow some people on social media who had celebrated Lankesh's killing. Raj had said the PM was a better actor than him, and that he should maybe therefore give the acting awards he had won to the prime minister. Also read: 'PM Modi better actor than me,' says actor Prakash Raj

Case registered against actor Prakash Raj in Lucknow court

<p>Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday responded to allegations that he has &quot;botched&quot; the economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Direct tax figures are 15.7% over and above last year&#39;s figure, so this so-called slowdown visualized by some, hasn&#39;t even impacted,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Direct tax figures are 15.7% over &amp; above last year&#39;s figure, so this so called slow down visualized by some, hasn&#39;t even impacted: FM <a href="https://t.co/XdB6bNvWdE">pic.twitter.com/XdB6bNvWdE</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/913408652484083718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: FM Arun Jaitley addresses at a book launch event in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/1fE7SPNcdQ">https://t.co/1fE7SPNcdQ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/913404768462106625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The growth rate of the Indian economy has however fallen consistently over the last six quarters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The blame for that has of late been directed at Jaitley, as has the blame for the two &quot;shocks&quot; of demonetisation and GST.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jaitley said that demonetisation was meant to link the &quot;anonymous&quot; money operating in the market to its owner.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Demonetisation was to make sure that the anonymous tender which operated in market gets identified to its owner: FM Arun Jaitley <a href="https://t.co/BKndPtCmkm">pic.twitter.com/BKndPtCmkm</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/913406917732532230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Jaitley added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi &quot;had a very strong agenda on creating a new normal as far as India&#39;s shadow economy was concerned&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prime Minister had a very strong agenda on creating a new normal as far as India shadow economy was concerned: FM Arun Jaitley</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/913408377161576448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Jaitley also took a potshot at former finance minister P Chidambaram.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I must confess that I do not have the luxury as yet of being a former finance minister, nor do I have the luxury of being a former finance minister who has turned a columnist,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chidambaram writes a weekly Sunday column for the Indian Express newspaper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jaitley also took a potshot at the Opposition Congress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I can conveniently forget a policy paralysis, 4 billion reserve left in 1991, and I can switch over and change a narrative,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Small areas which paralysed, at least UPA 2, because of discretions being used and misused. We were completely able to distance ourself from these discretions,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also said that the Opposition had pushed for a delay of the GST rollout.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Those who had pushed the country into policy paralysis, when they saw it (GST) coming, asked to postpone it,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On India&#39;s black economy, Jaitley said &quot;It had corrupted us as a society, tarnished our image globally&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;There was no way in India you could do business without relying on alternate mechanisms of payment,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also said that &quot;We gave opportunity to people to come clean about their accounts held abroad&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, &quot;Had announced this year, how do we legitimise political funding in India so underground funding itself comes to an end; now in final stages.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Had announced this year,how do we legitimize political funding in India so underground funding itself comes to an end;now in final stages:FM <a href="https://t.co/ZIhN2XFLks">pic.twitter.com/ZIhN2XFLks</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/913408058847518720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Jaitley had been&nbsp;speaking in Delhi at the launch of the book &quot;India at 70&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Probably a more apt title for the book would&#39;ve been &#39;India at 70, Modi at 3.5 and a job applicant at 80&#39;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jaitley has come under severe attack of late for his handling of the economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest salvo was fired by former NDA finance minister Yashwant Sinha.</p>

<p>Sinha&#39;s salvo came in the form of an opinion article in Wednesday&#39;s Indian Express newspaper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sinha, in his piece, blamed Jaitley squarely for botching up the economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sinha started his piece by saying: &quot;I shall be failing in my national duty if I did not speak up even now against the mess the finance minister has made of the economy. I am also convinced that what I am going to say reflects the sentiments of a large number of people in the BJP and elsewhere who are not speaking up out of fear.&quot;</p>

<p>He then went on to ask: &quot;So, what is the picture of the Indian economy today?,&quot; Sinha asked in his piece.</p>

<p>And to answer: &quot;Private investment has shrunk as never before in two decades, industrial production has all but collapsed, agriculture is in distress, construction industry, a big employer of the work force, is in the doldrums, the rest of the service sector is also in the slow lane, exports have dwindled, sector after sector of the economy is in distress, demonetisation has proved to be an unmitigated economic disaster, a badly conceived and poorly implemented GST has played havoc with businesses and sunk many of them and countless millions have lost their jobs with hardly any new opportunities coming the way of the new entrants to the labour market. For quarter after quarter, the growth rate of the economy has been declining until it reached the low of 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal, the lowest in three years.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The other person who has relentlessly attacked Jaitley recently is BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan&#39;s exit had also been preceded by a relentless attack on him by Swamy.&nbsp;</p>


Finance minister Arun Jaitley has recently been attacked relentlessly for his handling of the economy

Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday responded to allegations that he has "botched" the economy. "Direct tax figures are 15.7% over and above last year's figure, so this so-called slowdown visualized by some, hasn't even impacted," he said. Direct tax figures are 15.7% over & above last year's figure, so this so called slow down visualized by some, hasn't even impacted: FM pic.twitter.com/XdB6bNvWdE — ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2017 × #WATCH: FM Arun Jaitley addresses at a book launch event in Delhi https://t.co/1fE7SPNcdQ — ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2017 × The growth rate of the Indian economy has however fallen consistently over the last six quarters. The blame for that has of late been directed at Jaitley, as has the blame for the two "shocks" of demonetisation and GST. Jaitley said that demonetisation was meant to link the "anonymous" money operating in the market to its owner. Demonetisation was to make sure that the anonymous tender which operated in market gets identified to its owner: FM Arun Jaitley pic.twitter.com/BKndPtCmkm — ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2017 × Jaitley added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "had a very strong agenda on creating a new normal as far as India's shadow economy was concerned". Prime Minister had a very strong agenda on creating a new normal as far as India shadow economy was concerned: FM Arun Jaitley — ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2017 × Jaitley also took a potshot at former finance minister P Chidambaram. "I must confess that I do not have the luxury as yet of being a former finance minister, nor do I have the luxury of being a former finance minister who has turned a columnist," he said. Chidambaram writes a weekly Sunday column for the Indian Express newspaper. Jaitley also took a potshot at the Opposition Congress. "I can conveniently forget a policy paralysis, 4 billion reserve left in 1991, and I can switch over and change a narrative," he said. "Small areas which paralysed, at least UPA 2, because of discretions being used and misused. We were completely able to distance ourself from these discretions," he added. He also said that the Opposition had pushed for a delay of the GST rollout. "Those who had pushed the country into policy paralysis, when they saw it (GST) coming, asked to postpone it," he said. On India's black economy, Jaitley said "It had corrupted us as a society, tarnished our image globally". "There was no way in India you could do business without relying on alternate mechanisms of payment," he added. He also said that "We gave opportunity to people to come clean about their accounts held abroad". He added, "Had announced this year, how do we legitimise political funding in India so underground funding itself comes to an end; now in final stages." Had announced this year,how do we legitimize political funding in India so underground funding itself comes to an end;now in final stages:FM pic.twitter.com/ZIhN2XFLks — ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2017 × Jaitley had been speaking in Delhi at the launch of the book "India at 70". "Probably a more apt title for the book would've been 'India at 70, Modi at 3.5 and a job applicant at 80'. Jaitley has come under severe attack of late for his handling of the economy. The latest salvo was fired by former NDA finance minister Yashwant Sinha. Sinha's salvo came in the form of an opinion article in Wednesday's Indian Express newspaper. Sinha, in his piece, blamed Jaitley squarely for botching up the economy. Sinha started his piece by saying: "I shall be failing in my national duty if I did not speak up even now against the mess the finance minister has made of the economy. I am also convinced that what I am going to say reflects the sentiments of a large number of people in the BJP and elsewhere who are not speaking up out of fear." He then went on to ask: "So, what is the picture of the Indian economy today?," Sinha asked in his piece. And to answer: "Private investment has shrunk as never before in two decades, industrial production has all but collapsed, agriculture is in distress, construction industry, a big employer of the work force, is in the doldrums, the rest of the service sector is also in the slow lane, exports have dwindled, sector after sector of the economy is in distress, demonetisation has proved to be an unmitigated economic disaster, a badly conceived and poorly implemented GST has played havoc with businesses and sunk many of them and countless millions have lost their jobs with hardly any new opportunities coming the way of the new entrants to the labour market. For quarter after quarter, the growth rate of the economy has been declining until it reached the low of 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal, the lowest in three years." The other person who has relentlessly attacked Jaitley recently is BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy. Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan's exit had also been preceded by a relentless attack on him by Swamy.

WATCH: 'Slowdown visualised by some has not even impacted', says Arun Jaitley

<p>The biggest questions asked about India outside India today are what happened to tolerance, what happened to harmony, said Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was speaking to non-resident Indians in New York.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Biggest questions raised outside India now are what happened to tolerance that used to prevail? What happened to the harmony?: Rahul Gandhi</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/910664587640311809">September 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There are forces in our country that are dividing India &amp; its is very dangerous, it ruins our reputation abroad: Rahul Gandhi in NY <a href="https://t.co/S3s5W98Slo">pic.twitter.com/S3s5W98Slo</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/910688595928690688">September 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">For thousands of years, India has had a reputation of peace &amp; harmony, this is being challenged: Rahul Gandhi in New York <a href="https://t.co/wvHQinkPdm">pic.twitter.com/wvHQinkPdm</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/910688177051992064">September 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India simply can&#39;t give its youngsters a vision if it is unable to give them a job. Congress has vision to solve this problem-RG in New York <a href="https://t.co/Miw3Rc14L4">pic.twitter.com/Miw3Rc14L4</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/910686800921772032">September 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;India has people of many religions, languages living happily together,&quot; said Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Reason they have been able to do so are the ideas of Congress,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi repeated what he had said a day earlier at Princeton University -- that the central question facing India is how it will create jobs for the millions of young people entering the job market every year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Every day 30,000 new people enter the job market in India but only 450 are getting employed,&quot; said Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Everywhere you look there is an Indian working for US &amp; India, building both countries. You are our backbone,&quot; Gandhi also said to his NRI audience.&nbsp;</p>


The biggest questions asked about India outside India today are what happened to tolerance, what happened to harmony, said Rahul Gandhi. He was speaking to non-resident Indians in New York. Biggest questions raised outside India now are what happened to tolerance that used to prevail? What happened to the harmony?: Rahul Gandhi — ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2017 × There are forces in our country that are dividing India & its is very dangerous, it ruins our reputation abroad: Rahul Gandhi in NY pic.twitter.com/S3s5W98Slo — ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2017 × For thousands of years, India has had a reputation of peace & harmony, this is being challenged: Rahul Gandhi in New York pic.twitter.com/wvHQinkPdm — ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2017 × India simply can't give its youngsters a vision if it is unable to give them a job. Congress has vision to solve this problem-RG in New York pic.twitter.com/Miw3Rc14L4 — ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2017 × "India has people of many religions, languages living happily together," said Gandhi. "Reason they have been able to do so are the ideas of Congress," he added. Gandhi repeated what he had said a day earlier at Princeton University -- that the central question facing India is how it will create jobs for the millions of young people entering the job market every year. "Every day 30,000 new people enter the job market in India but only 450 are getting employed," said Gandhi. "Everywhere you look there is an Indian working for US & India, building both countries. You are our backbone," Gandhi also said to his NRI audience.

What happened to tolerance, harmony in India? Rahul Gandhi in US

<p>Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will arrive in India today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He will land in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Abe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to hold a roadshow to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Abe and Modi will also attend a breaking-ground ceremony near the ashram for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed railway corridor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And they will address a meeting of industry representatives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Abe and Modi are also expected to visit the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, also known as Siddi Sayyaid ki Jaali, in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Abe will be in India on a two-day visit.&nbsp;</p>


Abe and Modi will attend a breaking-ground ceremony in Ahmedabad for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed railway corridor

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will arrive in India today. He will land in Ahmedabad. Abe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to hold a roadshow to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Abe and Modi will also attend a breaking-ground ceremony near the ashram for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed railway corridor. And they will address a meeting of industry representatives. Abe and Modi are also expected to visit the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, also known as Siddi Sayyaid ki Jaali, in Ahmedabad. Abe will be in India on a two-day visit.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to arrive in India today on two-day visit

<p>Union minister Smriti Irani is responding to the comments made by Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi had made a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the morning.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="it"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Union Minister Smriti Irani addresses the media in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/c7TOVmqTnB">https://t.co/c7TOVmqTnB</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907495966789459968">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Gandhi had made a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the morning

Union minister Smriti Irani is responding to the comments made by Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi had made a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the morning. #WATCH: Union Minister Smriti Irani addresses the media in Delhi https://t.co/c7TOVmqTnB — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 ×

WATCH: Smriti Irani responds to Rahul Gandhi

<p>China today reacted sharply to army chief Gen Bipin Rawat&#39;s assertion that Beijing was testing India&#39;s limits, saying the remarks were contrary to the views expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Xiamen this week.&nbsp;<br />
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Rawat, while speaking at a seminar organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi, had said India should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting that China had started &quot;flexing its muscles&quot;, while there &nbsp;..&nbsp;there seems to be no scope for reconciliation with Pakistan whose military and polity saw an adversary in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-must-be-prepared-for-two-front-war-army-chief-19940" target="_blank">Also read: India must be prepared for two-front war, says Army chief</a></p>

<p>Reacting to the comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a briefing that, &quot;We have noted the statement by relevant people in India, also we noticed some Indian press remarked that the reports are shocking.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Just two days ago, President Xi Jinping pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the two countries are each other&#39;s development opportunities, not threats,&#39; Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said</h5>
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<p>Referring to the remarks expressed by Xi and Modi during their first meeting following the end of a 73-day standoff between the militaries of the two countries at Dokalam, Geng also questioned whether Rawat was authorised to speak and if his comments represented the Indian government&#39;s position.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;As reported by Indian press...we don&#39;t know whether he was authorised to speak those words or it was just his spontaneous words or whether his words represented the position of the Indian government,&quot; Geng said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Noting that China and India are important neighbours and are two large countries, Geng said sound and steady development of ties serves the fundamental interests of both the countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is what the international community wishes to see, he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Just two days ago, President Xi Jinping pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the two countries are each other&#39;s development opportunities, not threats,&quot; Geng said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We hope India could view China&#39;s development in a correct and rational way. We need to show to the world that peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation is the only right choice for the two countries,&quot; Geng quoted Xi as telling Modi during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We should respect each other, seek common ground and shelve differences, preserve peace and tranquillity of the border area,&quot; Xi had said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Modi had also said that the Indian side is willing to work with China to maintain steady development of bilateral ties, Geng said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We should not treat each other as rivals. We should make cooperation the mainstream and the two sides should work together to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas,&quot; Geng said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Hope that this military official would see clearly this trend and contribute to the development of China and India relations and see something more in that regard,&quot; he said in response to Rawat&#39;s remarks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rawat, in his remarks, had said, &quot;As far as the northern adversary is concerned, the flexing of muscle has started. The salami slicing, taking over territory in a very gradual manner, testing our limits of the threshold is something we have to be wary about and remain prepared for situations emerging which could gradually emerge into conflict.&quot;&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Gen Bipin Rawat had said on Wednesday that India should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting that China had started 'flexing its muscle'

China today reacted sharply to army chief Gen Bipin Rawat's assertion that Beijing was testing India's limits, saying the remarks were contrary to the views expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Xiamen this week. Rawat, while speaking at a seminar organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies in New Delhi, had said India should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting that China had started "flexing its muscles", while there .. there seems to be no scope for reconciliation with Pakistan whose military and polity saw an adversary in India. Also read: India must be prepared for two-front war, says Army chief Reacting to the comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a briefing that, "We have noted the statement by relevant people in India, also we noticed some Indian press remarked that the reports are shocking." Just two days ago, President Xi Jinping pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the two countries are each other's development opportunities, not threats,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said × Referring to the remarks expressed by Xi and Modi during their first meeting following the end of a 73-day standoff between the militaries of the two countries at Dokalam, Geng also questioned whether Rawat was authorised to speak and if his comments represented the Indian government's position. "As reported by Indian press...we don't know whether he was authorised to speak those words or it was just his spontaneous words or whether his words represented the position of the Indian government," Geng said. Noting that China and India are important neighbours and are two large countries, Geng said sound and steady development of ties serves the fundamental interests of both the countries. This is what the international community wishes to see, he said. "Just two days ago, President Xi Jinping pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the two countries are each other's development opportunities, not threats," Geng said. "We hope India could view China's development in a correct and rational way. We need to show to the world that peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation is the only right choice for the two countries," Geng quoted Xi as telling Modi during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. "We should respect each other, seek common ground and shelve differences, preserve peace and tranquillity of the border area," Xi had said. Prime Minister Modi had also said that the Indian side is willing to work with China to maintain steady development of bilateral ties, Geng said. "We should not treat each other as rivals. We should make cooperation the mainstream and the two sides should work together to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas," Geng said. "Hope that this military official would see clearly this trend and contribute to the development of China and India relations and see something more in that regard," he said in response to Rawat's remarks. Rawat, in his remarks, had said, "As far as the northern adversary is concerned, the flexing of muscle has started. The salami slicing, taking over territory in a very gradual manner, testing our limits of the threshold is something we have to be wary about and remain prepared for situations emerging which could gradually emerge into conflict."

China says Indian Army chief's views contrary to those expressed by Modi, Xi

<p>Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has said there is nobody strong enough to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2019 general elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He made the comments at his first press conference after being sworn in as chief minister of Bihar for a sixth time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Nobody else (other than Modi) can occupy the PM&#39;s post. Now nobody has the strength to beat Modi,&quot; Kumar said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also took digs at both his former alliance partners -- the RJD and the Congress. The RJD&#39;s Lalu Prasad and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had accused him of forging an alliance with the &quot;communal&quot; BJP. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Making huge money hiding behind the shield of secularism ...is this secularism? ... I need no certificate of secularism from anybody,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Rahul Gandhi claiming that he had known for the last three to four months that Kumar was walking out of the coalition, he said: &quot;Then why did he (Gandhi) meet me when I had gone to Delhi and sought his intervention...to ask RJD to come clean on the accusations.</p>

<p>&quot;Congress did not act on time in Assam also when AGP had come on board. It cost us the Assam polls,&quot; he said, adding &quot;we can be a partner but not a camp follower.&quot;</p>

<p>Kumar had till some time ago been seen as a possible contender to Modi. But asked about his role in national politics, he said, &quot;Ours is a small party which does not harbour big national aspirations.&quot;</p>

<p>When asked about the possibility of the JD(U) becoming a part of the NDA at the national level, with ministers in the Modi government, Kumar said the JD(U) national executive would meet in Patna on August 19 and all issues would be decided there.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>


The JD(U) chief also took digs at both his former alliance partners -- the RJD and the Congress

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has said there is nobody strong enough to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2019 general elections. He made the comments at his first press conference after being sworn in as chief minister of Bihar for a sixth time. "Nobody else (other than Modi) can occupy the PM's post. Now nobody has the strength to beat Modi," Kumar said. He also took digs at both his former alliance partners -- the RJD and the Congress. The RJD's Lalu Prasad and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had accused him of forging an alliance with the "communal" BJP. "Making huge money hiding behind the shield of secularism ...is this secularism? ... I need no certificate of secularism from anybody," he said. On Rahul Gandhi claiming that he had known for the last three to four months that Kumar was walking out of the coalition, he said: "Then why did he (Gandhi) meet me when I had gone to Delhi and sought his intervention...to ask RJD to come clean on the accusations. "Congress did not act on time in Assam also when AGP had come on board. It cost us the Assam polls," he said, adding "we can be a partner but not a camp follower." Kumar had till some time ago been seen as a possible contender to Modi. But asked about his role in national politics, he said, "Ours is a small party which does not harbour big national aspirations." When asked about the possibility of the JD(U) becoming a part of the NDA at the national level, with ministers in the Modi government, Kumar said the JD(U) national executive would meet in Patna on August 19 and all issues would be decided there. (With inputs from PTI)

Nobody strong enough to take on Modi in 2019: Nitish Kumar

<p>In the current standoff in Doklam, India will remain firm militarily but be reasonable diplomatically, the Times of India reported on Wednesday quoting sources.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;India will remain &#39;firm and resolute&#39; on the ground or at the military level to thwart any attempt by China to &#39;bully&#39; Bhutan, while being &#39;reasonable&#39; at the politico-diplomatic level to resolve the ongoing troop stand-off with the People&#39;s Liberation Army in the Doklam area in Bhutanese territory, say sources&quot;, the TOI said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are at the moment about 300 soldiers from either side facing off from each other, about 150 metres apart, in Doklam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Doklam lies in Bhutan, close to the trijunction where China (Tibet), India (Sikkim), and Bhutan meet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The standoff erupted in June when Chinese troops began to build a road on the plateau.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhutanese troops tried to stop them but were unable to do so.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They then asked Indian troops for help, who intervened, sparking the standoff which has been building up ever since.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Only yesterday, the Chinese defence ministry said -- depending on the situation -- it would continue to increase troop deployments to the region.&nbsp;</p>


There are at the moment about 300 soldiers from either side facing off from each other, about 150 metres apart, in Doklam

In the current standoff in Doklam, India will remain firm militarily but be reasonable diplomatically, the Times of India reported on Wednesday quoting sources. "India will remain 'firm and resolute' on the ground or at the military level to thwart any attempt by China to 'bully' Bhutan, while being 'reasonable' at the politico-diplomatic level to resolve the ongoing troop stand-off with the People's Liberation Army in the Doklam area in Bhutanese territory, say sources", the TOI said. There are at the moment about 300 soldiers from either side facing off from each other, about 150 metres apart, in Doklam. Doklam lies in Bhutan, close to the trijunction where China (Tibet), India (Sikkim), and Bhutan meet. The standoff erupted in June when Chinese troops began to build a road on the plateau. Bhutanese troops tried to stop them but were unable to do so. They then asked Indian troops for help, who intervened, sparking the standoff which has been building up ever since. Only yesterday, the Chinese defence ministry said -- depending on the situation -- it would continue to increase troop deployments to the region.

On Doklam, India will remain firm militarily but be reasonable diplomatically: Report

<p>At a solemn ceremony in Haifa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu laid wreaths at the Indian War Cemetery in Haifa.</p>

<p>Forty-four&nbsp;Indian soldiers had died liberating the city during World War I.</p>

<p>The two prime ministers unveiled a plaque commemorating Major Dalpat Singh, who had led the cavalry charge that resulted in the liberation of Haifa.</p>

<p>&quot;I am deeply honoured to stand here today to salute the valiant soldiers, who laid down their lives for the liberation of Haifa during the first World War,&quot; Modi wrote in the visitors&#39;&nbsp;book.</p>

<p>He also wrote that 2018, the centenary of the Battle of Haifa, would present another opportunity to mark the enduring bond between India and Israel. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The three Teen Murti statues in Delhi represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur, and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade.</p>

<p>The brigade carried out the charge on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I.</p>

<p>There are various accounts of the battle, but most tell of the valour of the&nbsp;lancers&nbsp;who undertook the assault on the garrisoned town of Haifa protected by the Ottoman Army.</p>

<p>The lancers&nbsp;were armed with lances -- hence the name -- the Ottomans had machine guns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The capture of Haifa cleared a route for the Allies to the sea.</p>

<p>Even today, the 61st Cavalry celebrates September 23 as its Raising Day or &quot;Haifa Day&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
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The two prime ministers unveiled a plaque commemorating Major Dalpat Singh, who led the cavalry charge in 2018 that resulted in the liberation of Haifa

At a solemn ceremony in Haifa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu laid wreaths at the Indian War Cemetery in Haifa. Forty-four Indian soldiers had died liberating the city during World War I. The two prime ministers unveiled a plaque commemorating Major Dalpat Singh, who had led the cavalry charge that resulted in the liberation of Haifa. "I am deeply honoured to stand here today to salute the valiant soldiers, who laid down their lives for the liberation of Haifa during the first World War," Modi wrote in the visitors' book. He also wrote that 2018, the centenary of the Battle of Haifa, would present another opportunity to mark the enduring bond between India and Israel. The three Teen Murti statues in Delhi represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur, and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the charge on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. There are various accounts of the battle, but most tell of the valour of the lancers who undertook the assault on the garrisoned town of Haifa protected by the Ottoman Army. The lancers were armed with lances -- hence the name -- the Ottomans had machine guns. The capture of Haifa cleared a route for the Allies to the sea. Even today, the 61st Cavalry celebrates September 23 as its Raising Day or "Haifa Day".

At solemn ceremony, Modi & Netanyahu lay wreaths at Indian War Cemetery in Haifa

<p>Indian Prime MInister Narendra Modi met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two of them held restricted talks ahead of delegation-level talks, at which the two leaders are expected to sign a number of agreements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Netanyahu called Modi&#39;s visit groundbreaking and emphasised that he sees history in the making in his talks with the Indian leader.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Expanding perspectives. PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> and PM <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu">@netanyahu</a> before start of restricted talks <a href="https://t.co/Wf2FIZZAzY">pic.twitter.com/Wf2FIZZAzY</a></p>
&mdash; Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/882532952042852352">July 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Taking yesterday&#39;s discussions forward. PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> and PM <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu">@netanyahu</a> meet for restricted talks in Jerusalem. <a href="https://t.co/ytZbz7pkcB">pic.twitter.com/ytZbz7pkcB</a></p>
&mdash; Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/882531689314095104">July 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">PM recalls that Prez Rivlin&#39;s phrase &#39;Make with India&#39; is echoed in Israel and has percolates to all levels <a href="https://t.co/mk6cqQ8lBs">pic.twitter.com/mk6cqQ8lBs</a></p>
&mdash; Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/882514708099723264">July 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Taking yesterday`s discussions forward. PM @narendramodi and PM @netanyahu meet for restricted talks in Jerusalem,&quot; External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Modi called on Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.</p>

<p>Rivlin broke with protocol, welcoming Modi&nbsp;with a hug as he alighted from his car.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I am very grateful to the President for welcoming me so warmly,&quot; Modi told the media.</p>

<p>&quot;He broke protocol and came out to the alighting point to welcome me. This is a mark of respect for the people of India.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later on Wednesday, Modi is scheduled to meet Moshe Holtzberg, who lost his parents in the attack on the Chabad House in Mumbai during the 26/11 terror attacks.</p>

<p>Moshe -- who was a baby then, he is now a young boy of 10 -- was rescued by his Indian nanny.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the evening, Modi will also address a 4,000-strong gathering of the Indian diaspora in Israel.</p>


Netanyahu also called Modi's visit -- the first by an Indian prime minister -- groundbreaking

Indian Prime MInister Narendra Modi met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. The two of them held restricted talks ahead of delegation-level talks, at which the two leaders are expected to sign a number of agreements. Prime Minister Netanyahu called Modi's visit groundbreaking and emphasised that he sees history in the making in his talks with the Indian leader. Expanding perspectives. PM @narendramodi and PM @netanyahu before start of restricted talks pic.twitter.com/Wf2FIZZAzY — Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017 × Taking yesterday's discussions forward. PM @narendramodi and PM @netanyahu meet for restricted talks in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/ytZbz7pkcB — Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017 × PM recalls that Prez Rivlin's phrase 'Make with India' is echoed in Israel and has percolates to all levels pic.twitter.com/mk6cqQ8lBs — Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017 × "Taking yesterday`s discussions forward. PM @narendramodi and PM @netanyahu meet for restricted talks in Jerusalem," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders. Earlier in the day, Modi called on Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. Rivlin broke with protocol, welcoming Modi with a hug as he alighted from his car. "I am very grateful to the President for welcoming me so warmly," Modi told the media. "He broke protocol and came out to the alighting point to welcome me. This is a mark of respect for the people of India." Later on Wednesday, Modi is scheduled to meet Moshe Holtzberg, who lost his parents in the attack on the Chabad House in Mumbai during the 26/11 terror attacks. Moshe -- who was a baby then, he is now a young boy of 10 -- was rescued by his Indian nanny. In the evening, Modi will also address a 4,000-strong gathering of the Indian diaspora in Israel.

Modi meets Netanyahu, who calls visit history in the making

<p>Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti has been appointed India&#39;s next chief election commissioner.</p>

<p>Joti, 64, was chief secretary of Gujarat while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister of the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Joti takes over from Nasim Zaidi.</p>

<p>Joti will continue in office till January 2017.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PTI reported that Joti has also served as Gujarat vigilance commissioner and worked in various capacities in the state, including as the chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and the managing director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL).&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added that he was also secretary in the industry, revenue and water supply departments in the state.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti has been appointed India's next chief election commissioner. Joti, 64, was chief secretary of Gujarat while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister of the state. Joti takes over from Nasim Zaidi. Joti will continue in office till January 2017. PTI reported that Joti has also served as Gujarat vigilance commissioner and worked in various capacities in the state, including as the chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and the managing director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL). It added that he was also secretary in the industry, revenue and water supply departments in the state.

Achal Kumar Joti appointed as India's next chief election commissioner

<p>Indian Prime Minister Modi landed at Ben Gurion airport in Israel on Tuesday evening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was received at the airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- a singular accord for a visiting dignitary. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Israel in the first-ever visit to the country by an Indian PM, received by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu <a href="https://t.co/mCWD1UDMTD">pic.twitter.com/mCWD1UDMTD</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/882225499665072128">July 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Modi&#39;s visit to Israel is being seen as a &quot;coming out&quot; of the relationship between the two countries since they opened diplomatic relations in 1992. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi landed at Ben Gurion dressed in the colours of the Israeli flag -- white and blue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was wearing a white bandhgala and a blue pocket square.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi was welcomed by Netanyahu -- the two leaders hugged on the tarmac -- as &quot;mere dost&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receives PM Modi at Ben Gurion Airport <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ModiInIsrael?src=hash">#ModiInIsrael</a> <a href="https://t.co/FgFm5RWPES">pic.twitter.com/FgFm5RWPES</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/882224478519836673">July 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Aapka swagat hai mere dost,&quot; said Netanyahu in his welcome address.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Mr Prime Minister, we have been waiting for you for a very long time. In fact, we have been waiting for you for 70 years. This is truly a historic visit,&quot; said Netanyahu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="in"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a> Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says, &#39;Aapka swagat hai mere dost&#39; welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel <a href="https://t.co/QjtsoCek2R">pic.twitter.com/QjtsoCek2R</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/882227611501346816">July 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;We love India, admire your culture, history, democracy and commitment to progress,&quot; Netanyahu added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I am confident of the real mathematics of life, of success of our partnership for many reasons; talent of our people,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And: &quot;Formula for success is simple, it&#39;s I-squared &amp; T-squared which equals Indian talent &amp; Israeli technology equals India-Israel ties for tomorrow.&quot;</p>

<p>Modi, in his address, reciprocated with: &quot;It is my singular honour to be the first-ever PM of India to undertake this groundbreaking visit to Israel.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Alongside building a partnership for shared economic prosperity, we are also cooperating to secure our societies,&quot; Modi added.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Alongside building a partnership for shared economic prosperity, we are also cooperating to secure our societies:PM Modi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ModiInIsrael?src=hash">#ModiInIsrael</a> <a href="https://t.co/CyorH6D2xM">pic.twitter.com/CyorH6D2xM</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/882229763208691713">July 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;A progressive partnership in all these areas would shape the scope of my conversation with my friend PM Benjamin Netanyahu,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi, in his address, also mentioned&nbsp;the &quot;Raid on Entebbe&quot;; and that it was Netanyahu&#39;s brother who had died in the operation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Operation&nbsp;Entebbe had been carried out by Israeli Defence Forces to take back control of an El Air flight that had been hijacked by Palestinian militants and diverted to the Ugandan capital Entebbe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Today is July 4, exactly 41 years since Operation Entebbe when your PM and my friend Bibi lost his brother while rescuing hostages,&quot; said Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi&#39;s visit to Israel is expected to focus cooperation between the two countries in the areas of water management, agriculture, and start-ups.</p>

<p>Apart of course from defence; India is one of the largest buyers of Israeli defence equipment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi will be in Israel for three days after which he will fly to Hamburg, Germany for the G20 summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Significantly, Modi will not -- over the course of his three-day visit -- be visiting Palestine, indicating that India no longer hyphenates its Israel relationship with Palestine. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Narendra Modi&#39;s itinerary in Israel:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Tuesday July 4:</strong></p>

<p>Modi lands in Tel Aviv at 4pm (6:30 pm IST)</p>

<p>Visits Danziger flower farm</p>

<p>Visits Yad Vashem memorial to victims of the holocaust</p>

<p>Has dinner with Netanyahu&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Wednesday July 5:</strong></p>

<p>Meets with President Reuven Rivlin at 10:30 am (1 pm IST)&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meets Netanyahu for talks at 11:30 am (2 pm IST)</p>

<p>Modi and Netanyahu hold joint press conference at 2 pm ( 4:30 pm IST)&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi visits museum with Netanyahu&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi gives speech to Indian community at 9 pm (11:30 pm IST)&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Thursday</strong><strong> July 6:</strong></p>

<p>Modi travels to Haifa to pay homage to Indian soldiers at 11:30 am ( 2pm IST)&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi has lunch with CEOs</p>

<p>Modi leaves for Germany at 5 pm (7:30 pm IST)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


'We love India, admire your culture, history, democracy and commitment to progress,' Netanyahu said

Indian Prime Minister Modi landed at Ben Gurion airport in Israel on Tuesday evening. He was received at the airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- a singular accord for a visiting dignitary. #WATCH: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Israel in the first-ever visit to the country by an Indian PM, received by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu pic.twitter.com/mCWD1UDMTD — ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2017 × Modi's visit to Israel is being seen as a "coming out" of the relationship between the two countries since they opened diplomatic relations in 1992. Modi landed at Ben Gurion dressed in the colours of the Israeli flag -- white and blue. He was wearing a white bandhgala and a blue pocket square. Modi was welcomed by Netanyahu -- the two leaders hugged on the tarmac -- as "mere dost". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receives PM Modi at Ben Gurion Airport #ModiInIsrael pic.twitter.com/FgFm5RWPES — ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2017 × "Aapka swagat hai mere dost," said Netanyahu in his welcome address. "Mr Prime Minister, we have been waiting for you for a very long time. In fact, we have been waiting for you for 70 years. This is truly a historic visit," said Netanyahu. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel. #WATCH Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says, 'Aapka swagat hai mere dost' welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel pic.twitter.com/QjtsoCek2R — ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2017 × "We love India, admire your culture, history, democracy and commitment to progress," Netanyahu added. "I am confident of the real mathematics of life, of success of our partnership for many reasons; talent of our people," he added. And: "Formula for success is simple, it's I-squared & T-squared which equals Indian talent & Israeli technology equals India-Israel ties for tomorrow." Modi, in his address, reciprocated with: "It is my singular honour to be the first-ever PM of India to undertake this groundbreaking visit to Israel." "Alongside building a partnership for shared economic prosperity, we are also cooperating to secure our societies," Modi added. Alongside building a partnership for shared economic prosperity, we are also cooperating to secure our societies:PM Modi #ModiInIsrael pic.twitter.com/CyorH6D2xM — ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2017 × "A progressive partnership in all these areas would shape the scope of my conversation with my friend PM Benjamin Netanyahu," he said. Modi, in his address, also mentioned the "Raid on Entebbe"; and that it was Netanyahu's brother who had died in the operation. Operation Entebbe had been carried out by Israeli Defence Forces to take back control of an El Air flight that had been hijacked by Palestinian militants and diverted to the Ugandan capital Entebbe. "Today is July 4, exactly 41 years since Operation Entebbe when your PM and my friend Bibi lost his brother while rescuing hostages," said Modi. Modi's visit to Israel is expected to focus cooperation between the two countries in the areas of water management, agriculture, and start-ups. Apart of course from defence; India is one of the largest buyers of Israeli defence equipment. Modi will be in Israel for three days after which he will fly to Hamburg, Germany for the G20 summit. Significantly, Modi will not -- over the course of his three-day visit -- be visiting Palestine, indicating that India no longer hyphenates its Israel relationship with Palestine. Narendra Modi's itinerary in Israel: Tuesday July 4: Modi lands in Tel Aviv at 4pm (6:30 pm IST) Visits Danziger flower farm Visits Yad Vashem memorial to victims of the holocaust Has dinner with Netanyahu Wednesday July 5: Meets with President Reuven Rivlin at 10:30 am (1 pm IST) Meets Netanyahu for talks at 11:30 am (2 pm IST) Modi and Netanyahu hold joint press conference at 2 pm ( 4:30 pm IST) Modi visits museum with Netanyahu Modi gives speech to Indian community at 9 pm (11:30 pm IST) Thursday July 6: Modi travels to Haifa to pay homage to Indian soldiers at 11:30 am ( 2pm IST) Modi has lunch with CEOs Modi leaves for Germany at 5 pm (7:30 pm IST)

Welcome 'mere dost', Israel PM Netanyahu tells Modi

<p>He added that two lakh other registered companies are under the scanner for their involvement in what looked like dubious transactions in the aftermath of demonetisation.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that his goverment had deregistered one lakh companies which had allegedly engaged in suspicious transactions post-demonetisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Forty-eight hours before the launch of GST, we, by one stroke of pen, cancelled the registration of one lakh companies which, based on the mining of deposits made in banks after November 8, were found to have engaged in serious irregularities,&quot; said Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that two lakh other registered companies are under the scanner for their involvement in what look like dubious transactions in the aftermath of demonetisation.</p>

<p>He also said the government has identified 37,000 shell companies which engage in the laundering of black money.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Times of India said Modi&#39;s comments are a clear indicator that the government is &quot;moving swiftly to turn the switch to GST and its successful implementation as part of his campaign against black money and corruption&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi was speaking at a function organised to mark the foundation day of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The decision to de-register one lakh companies in one stroke is reflective of the government&#39;s intent as well as a pointer to the will power of the political class. Such decisions are not taken on the basis of political calculations, they can be taken only by those who love the country,&quot; Modi had said at the function.</p>


The Prime Minister also said the government has identified 37,000 shell companies which engage in the laundering of black money

He added that two lakh other registered companies are under the scanner for their involvement in what looked like dubious transactions in the aftermath of demonetisation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that his goverment had deregistered one lakh companies which had allegedly engaged in suspicious transactions post-demonetisation. "Forty-eight hours before the launch of GST, we, by one stroke of pen, cancelled the registration of one lakh companies which, based on the mining of deposits made in banks after November 8, were found to have engaged in serious irregularities," said Modi. He added that two lakh other registered companies are under the scanner for their involvement in what look like dubious transactions in the aftermath of demonetisation. He also said the government has identified 37,000 shell companies which engage in the laundering of black money. The Times of India said Modi's comments are a clear indicator that the government is "moving swiftly to turn the switch to GST and its successful implementation as part of his campaign against black money and corruption". Modi was speaking at a function organised to mark the foundation day of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in India. "The decision to de-register one lakh companies in one stroke is reflective of the government's intent as well as a pointer to the will power of the political class. Such decisions are not taken on the basis of political calculations, they can be taken only by those who love the country," Modi had said at the function.

Modi: 48 hours before GST, 1 lakh cos lost registration for post-demonetisation irregularities?

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump said trade with India must be &ldquo;fair and reciprocal&rdquo;. This open-ended statement comes amid a background of Western business institutions urging more from India, from London&rsquo;s Economist, America&rsquo;s New York Times, to the World Bank.</p>

<p>Indians may be forgiven for feeling confused. Modi&rsquo;s prime directive is modernizing and opening up the economy. He works under the assumption that the needs of Big Business are the needs of the nation. After a few years in power, after the shock of demonetisation and reforms like streamlining the GST, Western business still demands more? &nbsp;</p>

<p>Yes. &nbsp;If Trump&#39;s &ldquo;fair and reciprocal&rdquo; means anything, it means more for the US. But more of what?<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Why it&rsquo;s hard to know precisely</strong></p>

<p>In an alarming break from tradition, reporters from both the American and Indian delegations at the White House Rose Garden were banned from asking their customary two questions each, even as Trump praised his accessibility to the public. He cited his direct contact with his millions of Twitter followers. Not only does social media let him bypass media fact-checking, but perhaps half of his 31 million Twitter followers are literally not human beings, let alone American voters &mdash; they are <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-twitter-followers-fake-617873" target="_blank">bots</a>.</p>

<p>A new PEW poll shows 75 per cent of the world has &ldquo;little or no confidence&rdquo; in Trump. Indian media has been giddy seeing their leader in a place which, at least historically, carries global prestige. But when trying to discern what Trump will mean to India, they must resist falling into the gullible 25 per cent.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>What is known so far</strong><br />
Earlier in June, US giant Lockheed Martin Corp signed a letter of intent to work with Tata, the Indian conglomerate, to produce combat jets in India, the Indian Express reports. In the days leading up to the meet, the US pledged to supply 22 Guardian drones to help the Indian Navy&rsquo;s intelligence gathering capability.</p>

<p>Trump framed the military sale as a security partnership aimed at &ldquo;destroying radical Islamic terrorism&rdquo;, but actually the drones will be used by India to monitor Chinese activity in the South China Sea. True, the US designated Syed Salahuddin, India&rsquo;s arch foe in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a global terrorist. This is of course welcome news in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The point isn&rsquo;t that Trump is necessarily disingenuous in his pledge to work with India on security , it&rsquo;s that he was wildly incoherent recently on exactly this question: Weeks ago Trump declared Qatar a state-sponsor of terrorism, then days later the US committed to selling them $12 billion in fighter jets.</p>

<p><strong>Left unsaid</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>American journalists, who rightfully tried to make their voices heard despite the unprecedented ban on questions, asked about Trump&rsquo;s plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, which is set to take 22 million Americans off medical insurance. These journalists were ignored.</p>

<p>On the Indian side are students already in the US, or hoping to be, worried about their H1B visa. &nbsp;There are Muslims, who for good reason feel under attack in each country. There was no mention of H1B visas, and actually during Modi&rsquo;s visit Trump broke with 20 years of tradition by not celebrating Eid in the White House.</p>

<p>India&rsquo;s trade future with the US under Trump is only clear in broad outlines. The military and corporations will be attended to, but to what extent is unknown. On smaller but vital issues that matter to millions of ordinary people in each country, the silence over this two-day meeting spoke volumes.</p>


When Trump says he wants a 'fair and reciprocal' trade relationship with India, what exactly does he mean?

Trump said trade with India must be “fair and reciprocal”. This open-ended statement comes amid a background of Western business institutions urging more from India, from London’s Economist, America’s New York Times, to the World Bank. Indians may be forgiven for feeling confused. Modi’s prime directive is modernizing and opening up the economy. He works under the assumption that the needs of Big Business are the needs of the nation. After a few years in power, after the shock of demonetisation and reforms like streamlining the GST, Western business still demands more? Yes. If Trump's “fair and reciprocal” means anything, it means more for the US. But more of what? Why it’s hard to know precisely In an alarming break from tradition, reporters from both the American and Indian delegations at the White House Rose Garden were banned from asking their customary two questions each, even as Trump praised his accessibility to the public. He cited his direct contact with his millions of Twitter followers. Not only does social media let him bypass media fact-checking, but perhaps half of his 31 million Twitter followers are literally not human beings, let alone American voters — they are bots. A new PEW poll shows 75 per cent of the world has “little or no confidence” in Trump. Indian media has been giddy seeing their leader in a place which, at least historically, carries global prestige. But when trying to discern what Trump will mean to India, they must resist falling into the gullible 25 per cent. What is known so far Earlier in June, US giant Lockheed Martin Corp signed a letter of intent to work with Tata, the Indian conglomerate, to produce combat jets in India, the Indian Express reports. In the days leading up to the meet, the US pledged to supply 22 Guardian drones to help the Indian Navy’s intelligence gathering capability. Trump framed the military sale as a security partnership aimed at “destroying radical Islamic terrorism”, but actually the drones will be used by India to monitor Chinese activity in the South China Sea. True, the US designated Syed Salahuddin, India’s arch foe in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a global terrorist. This is of course welcome news in India. The point isn’t that Trump is necessarily disingenuous in his pledge to work with India on security , it’s that he was wildly incoherent recently on exactly this question: Weeks ago Trump declared Qatar a state-sponsor of terrorism, then days later the US committed to selling them $12 billion in fighter jets. Left unsaid American journalists, who rightfully tried to make their voices heard despite the unprecedented ban on questions, asked about Trump’s plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, which is set to take 22 million Americans off medical insurance. These journalists were ignored. On the Indian side are students already in the US, or hoping to be, worried about their H1B visa. There are Muslims, who for good reason feel under attack in each country. There was no mention of H1B visas, and actually during Modi’s visit Trump broke with 20 years of tradition by not celebrating Eid in the White House. India’s trade future with the US under Trump is only clear in broad outlines. The military and corporations will be attended to, but to what extent is unknown. On smaller but vital issues that matter to millions of ordinary people in each country, the silence over this two-day meeting spoke volumes.

Modi in Washington: Decoding Trump on trade

<p>While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump seemed very much on the same page when it came to terrorism -- &quot;We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism,&quot; Trump said -- Trump&#39;s feelings about trade with India very more muted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump said he would like a trading relationship with India that is &quot;fair and reciprocal.&quot;</p>

<p>Trump added that he sees a need for more balance in the India-US trade relationship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last year the US trade deficit with India neared $31 billion. A trade deficit is the amount by which the cost of a country&#39;s imports exceeds the value of its exports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;It is important that barriers be removed to the export of US goods into your markets and that we reduce our trade deficit with your country,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Trump added that he was pleased about an Indian airline&rsquo;s recent order of 100 new American planes and that the United States looked forward to exporting more energy, including major long-term contracts to purchase American natural gas.</p>

<p>Trump said the energy contracts &quot;are being negotiated and we will sign &ndash; trying to get the price up a little bit.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>(With inputs from Reuters)</p>


Trump said he sees a need for more balance in the India-US trade relationship

While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump seemed very much on the same page when it came to terrorism -- "We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism," Trump said -- Trump's feelings about trade with India very more muted. Trump said he would like a trading relationship with India that is "fair and reciprocal." Trump added that he sees a need for more balance in the India-US trade relationship. Last year the US trade deficit with India neared $31 billion. A trade deficit is the amount by which the cost of a country's imports exceeds the value of its exports. "It is important that barriers be removed to the export of US goods into your markets and that we reduce our trade deficit with your country," he said. Trump added that he was pleased about an Indian airline’s recent order of 100 new American planes and that the United States looked forward to exporting more energy, including major long-term contracts to purchase American natural gas. Trump said the energy contracts "are being negotiated and we will sign – trying to get the price up a little bit." (With inputs from Reuters)

On trade, Trump tells Modi: Want relationship that is 'fair and reciprocal'

Prohibitory orders continued in India&#39;s Kashmir today for ninth day in a row, following widespread violence after death of a separatist militant.<br />
<br />
Heavily armed policemen and security personnel patrolled Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, as security was heightened to prevent any untoward incident.<br />
<br />
Markets remained shut, roads deserted and residents preferred to stay indoors.<br />
<br />
There were no vehicles on the roads and mobile internet services continued to be suspended in parts of the Kashmir Valley to prevent rumour mongering. Trains and flights services also have been affected due to the unrest.<br />
<br />
Authorities had on Saturday seized newspapers and shut down cable television, aiming to quell a flare up of tensions in the region.<br />
<br />
Kashmir has been on the boil after security services on July 8 gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizbul Mujahideen - a group fighting India&#39;s control of the Muslim-majority region.<br />
<br />
At least 39 people have been killed and 3,100 wounded, most of them by police fire, in the worst outbreak of violence in six years in the disputed territory also claimed by Pakistan.<br />
<br />
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti had appealed to the people to maintain peace.<br />
<br />
Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan.<br />
<br />
Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said he was shocked by the killing of Wani and the civilians.<br />
<br />
India&#39;s foreign ministry said on Friday it was dismayed by Pakistan&#39;s attempt to &quot;interfere in our internal matters&quot;.<br />
<br />
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since Independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part.<br />
<br />
India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies.<br />
<br />
(Reuters)

Cable TV was shut down and newspapers seized by Indian authorities to stop 'campaign aimed at fomenting trouble' by media

Prohibitory orders continued in India's Kashmir today for ninth day in a row, following widespread violence after death of a separatist militant. Heavily armed policemen and security personnel patrolled Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, as security was heightened to prevent any untoward incident. Markets remained shut, roads deserted and residents preferred to stay indoors. There were no vehicles on the roads and mobile internet services continued to be suspended in parts of the Kashmir Valley to prevent rumour mongering. Trains and flights services also have been affected due to the unrest. Authorities had on Saturday seized newspapers and shut down cable television, aiming to quell a flare up of tensions in the region. Kashmir has been on the boil after security services on July 8 gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, leader of Hizbul Mujahideen - a group fighting India's control of the Muslim-majority region. At least 39 people have been killed and 3,100 wounded, most of them by police fire, in the worst outbreak of violence in six years in the disputed territory also claimed by Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti had appealed to the people to maintain peace. Violence in Kashmir has spiked against a backdrop of rising social tension and separatist sentiment in the Muslim-majority region, which for decades has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan. Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said he was shocked by the killing of Wani and the civilians. India's foreign ministry said on Friday it was dismayed by Pakistan's attempt to "interfere in our internal matters". India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since Independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. India accuses Pakistan of training and arming the rebels in the portion it controls and sending them to the Indian side, a claim its neighbour denies. (Reuters)

Day nine: Curfew continues, mobile internet services remain suspended in Kashmir