GST a disruptive change and tribute to India's democracy: President Pranab Mukherjee

Calling the GST a "disruptive change", President Pranab Mukherjee tonight said the ambitious central tax is a "tribute" to the maturity and wisdom of India's democracy, as he recalled steps taken during his own tenure as Finance Minister on this key reform measure.

He also said the GST Council should continuously review the implementation and suggest suitable improvements to the new indirect taxation regime.

"The new era in taxation, which we are about to initiate in a few minutes, is the result of a broad consensus arrived at between the Centre and states," Mukherjee said minutes before the GST rollout in his speech at a special function in the central hall of Parliament.

"This consensus took not only time but also effort to build. The effort came from persons across the political spectrum who set aside narrow partisan considerations and put the nation's interests first. It is a tribute to the maturity and wisdom of India's democracy," he said. The President termed the Goods and Service Tax (GST) a disruptive change.

"It is also a moment of some satisfaction for me because, as the Finance Minister, I had introduced the Constitution Amendment Bill on March 22, 2011," he said.

"It is similar to the introduction of VAT when there was initial resistance. When a change of this magnitude is undertaken, however positive it may be, there are bound to be some teething troubles and difficulties in the initial stages," he said.

Mukherjee said these issues have to be solved with understanding and speed to ensure that they do not impact the growth momentum of the economy.

"Success of such major changes always depends on their effective implementation. In the months to come, based on the experience of actual implementation, the GST Council and the Central and state governments should continuously review the design and make improvements, in the same constructive spirit as has been displayed till now," he said.

The President said the GST will "also make our exports more competitive and also provide a level playing field to domestic industry to compete with imports."

"Currently due to cascading, our exports still carry some embedded taxes, making them less competitive.

"Similarly, the hidden effect of cascading means that the total tax incidence on domestic industry is not transparent," he said.

Under GST, Mukherjee said the tax incidence will be transparent, enabling full removal of tax burden on exports and full incidence of domestic taxes on imports. By creating a unified common national market, the GST will act as a major boost to economic efficiency, tax compliance and domestic and foreign investment, the President said.

Mukherjee recalled the proposal to introduce GST was first mooted in the Budget Speech for the financial year 2006-07.

Observing that the GST will be administered through a modern world-class information technology system, he also recalled that in July 2010, he had set up an Empowered Group for development of IT systems required for the GST regime under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani.

He further said, "It is also a moment of some satisfaction for me because as the Finance Minister, I had introduced the Constitution Amendment Bill on March 22, 2011.

"I was closely involved in the design and implementation and had the occasion to meet the Empowered Committee of state finance ministers, formally and informally, as many as 16 times.

"I also met the Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra a number of times. I have a vivid recollection of those meetings and the various matters that were raised," Mukherjee said.

He observed that given the magnitude of the task, it was not a surprise that there were many contentious issues.

"Yet, I found both in those meetings and in my many interactions with Chief Ministers, Finance Ministers and officers of states, that most of them had a constructive approach and an underlying commitment to the introduction of GST.

The President said his confidence stood justified when on September 8, 2016, after the Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament and more than 50 per cent of State Legislatures, he had the privilege of giving assent to the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act.

The President further said, "As we usher in the creation of one nation, one tax, one market, let me conclude by calling upon every Indian to extend cooperation in the successful implementation of the new system."

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GST will help in lowering inflation, propelling GDP: FM Arun Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said rollout of the GST will ease inflation, make tax avoidance difficult and boost GDP growth.

Addressing the midnight launch event of the GST in the Central Hall of Parliament, Jaitley said the implementation of the landmark unified tax should be seen as the beginning of a new journey that will expand the country's economic horizon.

He further said that 17 transaction taxes in states and centre and 23 cesses would be subsumed in GST. An assessee will have to file only one return.

"Inflation will come down, tax avoidance will be difficult, India's GDP will be benefited and extra resources will be used for welfare of poor and weaker section," Jaitley said.

India is making history with the launch of GST, which is the biggest and most ambitious tax and economic reform in its history, the finance minister said.

"The old India was economically fragmented. New India will create one tax, one market, one nation. It will be in India where Centre and states work together towards the common goal of shared prosperity," Jaitley said.

Terming GST as an important achievement for the country, he said not only will India write a new destiny, the new tax regime would also strengthen federalism.

"The Constitution says India is a union of states. The union is strong if both Centre and states are strong. That is the real meaning of cooperative federalism.

"While enacting the GST, neither the states nor Centre gave up their sovereignty. They have pooled their sovereignty to make joint decisions in indirect taxation," the finance minister said.

In a large and complex federal system of multi-party democracy with Centre and 29 states and 2 UTs, Jaitley said India has implemented a constitutional amendment and brought in a large tax reform.

"We have done this at a time when world is facing a slow growth, isolationism and lack of structural reforms. With the GST, India has showed that these forces can be overcome through display of inclusion, openness and boldness," he said.

He appreciated the efforts of all members of parliament, state finance ministers and officials in making GST a reality when many had expressed doubts whether it could be implemented from July 1.
Jaitley also recalled the initiatives taken by his predecessors, including the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

He recalled the contribution of former finance Yashwant Sinha and former economic affairs secretary Vijay Kelkar.

"All decisions of GST Council were taken uninamously...We did not want to burden common man and weaker section," Jaitley said.

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GST launched: PM Narendra Modi shares credit with all parties, terms it Good and Simple Tax

Acknowledging the contributions of all parties in helping the Goods and Services Tax see the light of day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the rollout of the tax reform would help chart out a new course of the country and that its launch should not only be seen as the achievement of any one party or government alone.

While speaking in Parliament during a special function to launch the GST, Modi said, "We are deciding India's future course. We will chart a new course for the country at midnight with the launch of GST, which is not an achievement of any party or government only but a collective one. It's scope is not limited to the financial system."

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President M. Hamid Ansari and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley along with several cabinet ministers and MPs were also present in Parliament.

He said the dream of "one nation, one tax" would be realised with this landmark tax reform coming into force.

MODI LISTS BENEFITS OF GST 

Listing some of the several benefits the implementation of this milestone tax reform would bring in, Modi said, "GST is a good and simple tax. It is a catalyst that will end imbalance in trade and help increase export promotion. GST will protect citizens of Inspector Raj and help check black money and corruption. People will no longer have to wait for hours at toll plazas with the GST integrating 31 states and Union Territories as one."

The Prime Minister went on to say, "GST is economic integration of India just like what Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had done decades ago to integrate the country."

Issuing a word of caution at the same time, Modi said that while there may be some minor hiccups in the immediate wake of the rollout of the tax reform, people will soon adjust and the glitches will be ironed out before long.

HERE IS EVERYTHING THAT THE PRIME MINISTER SAID ABOUT THE TAX REFORM

1. The Good and Simple Tax is about collective effort. GST isn't just about India's economy but about democracy and cooperative federalism.

2. It's not about achievement of one party or one government, but it's our collective legacy, a fruit of our collective efforts.

3. It's about history. Central hall of Parliament has been witness to history.

On Dec 9, 1946, the Constituent Assembly first met here

On Aug 14, 1947,  India gained independence

On Nov 26, 1949 Constitution of India was adopted

4. For a step towards new economy and a new unifying system, there couldn't be a more appropriate place.

5. It's about consensus. India debated its Constitution for two years, 11 months and 17 days. In the same way, GST is a result of long discussions between the Centre and states in which the best brains of the country participated.

6. It's about equality. The Constitution gave all citizens the same opportunity and the same rights. GST brings all people of various states together in a single tax structure.

7. It's about Team India. GST is about cooperative federalism and the strength to walk together. It shows team India's potential. Horizontal sharing of burden will take the country in a vertical direction.

8. It's about the poor. GST Council has ensured that the services to the poor are not affected. Empathy towards the poor was on top of their mind. The  poor will benefit most from GST.

9. Small traders with turnover up to Rs 20 lakh are exempt and even for those with Rs 75 lakh turnover, the aim is to bring them into the system. There will be no additional burden on the small businesses

10. It's about coincidence. GST was the result of GST Council's 18th meeting today. Gita, coincidentally, has 18 chapters.

11. It's about one India. If Sardar Valbhbhai Patel hadn't unified the 500 princely states, what would India look like? Like Patel unified India, today we are talking about the economic integration of India.

12. Before GST, we had 500 different kind of taxes. Today from Ganganagar to Itanagar, from Leh to Lakshdweep we have one nation, one tax.

13. It's about transparency. GST is an opportunity to clean up black money. It's an opportunity for honest traders. It brings a new governance culture.

14. It's about ending tax terror. We have all heard about tax terrorism and Inspector Raj. GST is about technology and creates a tech trail. The grey area for bureaucracy is coming to an end.

15. It's a Good and Simple Tax. The world calls it Goods and Services Tax but it's actually a Good and Simple Tax. It's good as there's no tax on tax and simple because there's one form and one system.

16. It's about India. India has emerged as a favourite destination for foreign investors and foreign investors will benefit with a simple tax structure.

17. GST will act as a catalyst that helps remove India's trade imbalance and strengthen export promotion.

18. It's about development. GST will help those states that have natural resources but have lagged in development. All states will get equal opportunity and that's a big thing.

19. It's like our railway that Centre and states run together but we see it as Indian Railway. GST is about the Centre and states working towards a defined goal.

20. It's nothing to fear. Not everyone is tech savvy but everyone knows a Class 10 or Class 12 student who can help. Even when the number of your spectacles changes, you need to adjust to it.

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GST may benefit farmers from states like Karnataka but not Punjab

While apprehensions continue on whether Goods and Services Tax will affect the already suffering farming sector, numbers comparing earlier tax regime and the GST regime show that the farmers in many states including Karnataka, may have reason to smile.

GST on agricultural inputs may be lower than the previous regime that included VAT and Central Excise but it may be the opposite for states where farmers paid no tax for chemical fertilisers and no value-added-tax on pesticides. While farmers across the country benefited so far from inter-state price differentials, they will have to forego the same thanks to nationwide uniform GST rates.

Karnataka's agriculture minister Krishna Byregowda, who is a part of GST Council told reporters on Thursday how the GST regime was beneficial for the farmers inc comparison to the previous tax regime. Tax percentage on agricultural inputs, at least for farmers in Karnataka, will see a dip with GST except for power-driven agricultural implements which will increase to 12 percent from current 5.50 percent. Instead of VAT plus Central excise on input that pegged taxes at 18 percent for most products, GST has brought it down to 12 percent. Tax percentage on pesticides, however, remain unchanged. Here is how the cost of agricultural inputs will look like after GST roll out for farmers in Karnataka.

The situation, however, is unlikely to be the same for farmers in states like Punjab and Haryana where pesticides do not have VAT and fertilisers are tax-free. Farmers here will have to cough up more with fertilisers being pegged at 12 percent and pesticides at 18 percent. Pesticides in Haryana and Punjab currently attract an excise duty of 12.5 percent. Under the GST it is 18 percent, an additional 5.5 percent on the existing stock. This may improve as fresh stock with GST rates enters the market.

Prices of pre-stocked fertilisers post GST rollout has been a primary concern for the industry. While the industry stakeholders including fertiliser firms are sure that farmers will not pay more than the printed MRP, lack of clarity continues to bother many. In the long run, however, GST may, in fact, turn beneficial to farmers especially on the Chemical fertiliser, tractors, pump sets and motors, front.

Power-driven agricultural implements will cost higher with 12 percent tax as against the current 4-7 percent.

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India of 2017 different from India of 1962: Jaitley responds to China threat

The India of 2017 is different from what it was in 1962, defence minister Arun Jaitley asserted on Friday, hitting out at China for asking the Indian Army to learn from "historical lessons".

A day after China's oblique reference to the war the two countries had fought 55 years ago, the defence minister also said the current standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Sikkim sector was triggered by Beijing. Bhutan, he added, had made it clear that the land in question belonged to it.

"If they are trying to remind us, the situation in 1962 was different and India of 2017 is different," Jaitley said when asked about China's warning yesterday.

China had asked India to withdraw its troops from the Donglong area as a precondition for "meaningful dialogue" to settle the boundary issue. It warned that the Indian Army should learn "historical lessons".

"Bhutan government had issued a statement yesterday in which it made it clear that the land in question belonged to Bhutan. It is located near India's land. There is an arrangement between India and Bhutan for giving security," Jaitley told Aaj Tak news channel.

The defence minister said the Bhutan government had made its stance clear and China was trying to alter the status quo in the area.

"I think after this the issue has become very clear," Jaitley said.

The genesis of the flashpoint was China's attempts to build a road in the strategically key area of Donglong. Its link to the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction could give China a major military advantage over India.

The Indian Army had blocked construction of the road by China in Donglong, a disputed territory between China and Bhutan.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that India was "deeply concerned at the recent Chinese actions and has conveyed to the Chinese government that such construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India".

A 220-km section of the 3,488-km India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh falls in Sikkim.

Official sources said China had removed an old bunker of the Indian Army in Donglong by using a bulldozer after the Indian side refused to accede to its request, triggering the present troubles.

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Fake News: Syed Salahuddin Wasn't Offered Congress Ticket in 1987

Interest in Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin's name spiked after the US government designated him a "global terrorist", just ahead of the meet between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump last week.

A native of the Budgam district in Jammu and Kashmir, Salahuddin was known as an Islamic scholar and preacher. He was also associated with socio-political organisation, Jamaat-e-Islami.

A website Postcard.news reported "shocking information" that Salahuddin was offered a Congress ticket to contest from Amira Kadal constituency for state elections in 1987.

In the article, postcard.news wrote:

Congress had given him MLA ticket from Amira Kadal constituency in Budgam despite knowing his extreme hatred towards India and his pro-Pakistan stand.

They added that the Congress had to backtrack on the decision because National Conference wanted to field their candidate Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah, after which Congress withdrew his candidature. The article quoted Dainik Bhaskar.

The gist of this was picked up by a Twitter user whose tweet got over 1,700 retweets and 1,200 likes.

Tweeting the News

Handles like @DrGPradhan, which have more than 84,000 followers, also tweeted out this fake news.
A number of other handles too fell for the misinformation.

Why was congress quiet on terrorist Syed Salahuddin for so manu years? Because he was given MLA ticket in 1987 by congress in Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/ntAbAKUgz3

— KashmiriPandits News (@kpnewschannel) June 30, 2017

Did Congress give MLA ticket to terrorist Syed Salahuddin in 1987?https://t.co/ezmZlac5e6 via @postcard_news

— Suryavanshi 🇮🇳 (@Suryavanshi8888) June 30, 2017

Not So Fast

As pointed out by SMHoaxSalyer , Dainik Bhaskar has been falsely quoted by Postcard.
Here is what Dainik Bhaskar actually reported.

Dainik Bhaskar, in their article, only said that Salahuddin contested elections in 1987 on a Muslim United Front ticket.

The "shocking news" of how he contested in MUF ticket because NC wanted to field their candidate was not reported by Dainik Bhaskar, but was quoted so by the Postcard, reported SMHoaxSlayer.

Not just Dainik Bhaskar, even Hindustan Times reported that he contested on an MUF ticket and there is no mention of Salahuddin being offered a Congress ticket.

Salahuddin eventually lost the election to NC's Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah but the loss was marred by allegation of rigging elections against the Congress-NC alliance, reported the Hindustan Times.

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'Indian Sex Workers Are Afraid to Take Children to Hospitals'

Sex workers in India often give birth in their brothels then ignore the health needs of their growing children for fear of meeting prejudice in the medical system, new research shows.

The study interviewed tens of prostitutes servicing the busy west Indian city of Pune, a major IT and auto hub that draws skilled workers from across the country.

It found the women were well aware of the risks they faced from sexually transmitted diseases but had no knowledge of their own children's health needs. Many of their infants were malnourished and lacked the most basic of immunisations.

Mrunmayee Mangale, who conducted the research, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation late on Thursday,

These women do not have the courage to go to the government hospital fearing stigma.

According to government data, there are more than 200 brothels in Pune, the second largest city after Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra, which is among the biggest destinations for trafficked women in the country.

All the sex workers I interviewed were aware of HIV/AIDS, the use of condoms and their vulnerability to other sexually transmitted diseases. So they are taught about their health, but the children's health is ignored. Mangale, a medicine student at Pune's Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government

Medical College

Campaigns aimed at prostitutes often concentrate on sexual health, rather than reproductive or child health, leaving mother and child vulnerable to serious medical problems.

Oxford Of The East

Pune is located about 150 kms from Mumbai and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Asia-Pacific region.

It plays host to major technology and auto firms, and is dubbed "Oxford of the East" for its many seats of education.
The sex workers, by contrast to their clients, are often poor, rural and unschooled.

Mangale mapped 50 mothers aged 15-30, half of whom were from outside Maharashtra, and most of whom were illiterate.

Mangale found many delivered their babies inside their place of work - the brothel - often aided only by untrained midwives.

Nearly 22 percent of their children were found to be malnourished, and their mothers displayed poor knowledge of nutrition and the most common childhood illnesses.

Most mothers knew the importance of breastfeeding their babies, but didn't know for how long, the study found.

Mangale's project has earned her a spot to discuss healthcare in conflicts at the Asia Pacific Regional Meeting at Tokyo in September.

Campaigners say many children are cared for by charities in red-light areas, but as the sex trade shifts to private lodges and hotels, it is more difficult to monitor their health.

(The Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience.)

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Meghalya woman denied entry in Delhi Golf Club: Are Clubs in India relics of British Raj?

A Meghalaya woman in traditional dress was shunted out of Delhi Golf Club for 'Looking Like A Maid'. The woman, Tailin Lyngdoh was invited by her employer Nivedita Barthakur but was asked by Delhi Golf Club officials to leave the place as she looked like a 'dustbin'.

"We were invited for lunch at the Delhi Golf Club. We were all seated and we were almost served the lunch when suddenly the Club official came to me and asked me to leave the place. I enquired the reason. They told me that the dress (Jainsem) I was wearing was a maid's uniform. They even said that I looked like a dustbin," said Lyngdoh.

Delhi Golf Club has a set of rules that treat members' domestic employees differently. According to the club rules, Members' Domestic Employees (MDE), such as ayahs, drivers, attendants etc., while they are in the club premises shall be subject to and shall obey the lawful orders given to them by the Captain, Secretary or any office bearer. MDE are also not permitted in areas demarcated for Members.

The club rule also contains set dress codes to be observed by the members.

DRESS REGULATIONS

Members must change after golf prior to using the Main Club House and its facilities. Shorts are not permitted in the Main Bar, Dining Room and Card Rooms. Casual attire is acceptable, provided it does not offend the sensibilities of other members present.

Women may wear T-shirts/blouses along with trousers and normal length shorts/skirts/Capri.

However, blue denim jeans or mini shorts, including jogging shorts, tights, track suits etc are not allowed.

There is a set dress Code for the main bar, dining room, card room and party room as well.

INSTANCES OF DISCRIMINATION IN INDIAN CLUBS

There have been multiple instances of clubs asking guests to leave for what they deem 'inappropriate' dressing. Irrespective of the guest, there have been instances of clubs indulging in brazen elitism and

discrimination:

- January 19, 2016: Maids not allowed, Gymkhana Club tells Mohini Giri

- June 12, 2016: Delhi eatery 'denies entry' To underprivileged kids, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia orders probe                                  
                                                           
- March 07, 2015: Disabled activist denied entry into South Delhi Club

- July 12, 2014: Madras High Court Judge refused entry for wearing dhoti

- 1988: Barefoot MF Hussain was not allowed inside Willington Club, Mumbai

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Not for separate Gorkhaland state, BJP clarifies

The BJP on Tuesday said that it does not support its ally Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's demand for a separate state comprising Darjeeling and parts of north Bengal but called for addressing the region's cultural and political concerns.

Its chief Amit Shah, who arrived here following a two-day tour of Puducherry, met party leaders, including general secretary and Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya.

A BJP leader, however, played down the meeting's import, saying Shah routinely meets party leaders and it should not be linked with the issue.

Earlier in the day, Vijayvargiya told reporters that his party does not support the demand of a separate state and blamed the state's Mamata Banerjee government for triggering a crisis by undermining the Gorkha Territorial Administration. He said the cultural and political concerns of the people in the region needed to be addressed and the BJP was for empowering the GTA and taking other measures.

Party sources said a separate state of Gorkhaland, as is the GTA's demand, would create security concerns due to its location, it shares borders with Nepal, and would be economically unfeasible too.

They said a delegation could meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh, asking him to take measures to address the concerns of the people in the region.

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After China stalls Mansarovar Yatra, pilgrims in Sikkim share disappointment

With the Chinese government stalling the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from the Sikkim route this year, pilgrims who had to return from Gangtok have expressed their disappointment over cancellation of the yatra at the last moment.

Two batches comprising of at least 90 yatris were scheduled to cross into China through the Nathu-La pass last week but were denied access by the Chinese authorities without any prior intimation.

Stranded in Gangtok, exasperated pilgrims have been making desperate calls to the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi seeking clarity on the status of the yatra.

The MEA initially stated that the Government of India was taking the matter up with its Chinese counterpart accepting that there were "some difficulties" with the yatra through the Sikkim route.

However, the yatra was later called off and the Sikkim government made arrangements for the pilgrims to return to their respective locations from Gangtok.

Confirming the development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said, "Out of security considerations we have put off pilgrimages by Indian pilgrims through the Chinese pass."

For sixty-nine year old Gangadhar from Andhra Pradesh, this was the first attempt at the arduous pilgrimage despite stiff resistance from family members.

"My son told me there was no point in going at my age, and having to bear all the discomfort that comes with it," he told India Today. He now says that he is not sure if he will ever be able to make one more attempt next year.

Another yatri, Indu Upadhyay from Mumbai had embarked on the journey with her husband with a lot of faith knowing well that this would possibly be the last time they could make the journey.

"I am a devotee of Bhole Naath and had come on this pilgrimage with a lot of faith. This was our first and perhaps the last chance. We are aging and we don't think there will be a next time for us," she said.

Not just health considerations, pilgrims also had to shell out a lot of money for the trip. "I spent so much of my savings to come here - around 2 to 2.25 lakh rupees. It is all a question of faith. I had full faith that we would be allowed to proceed. But anyway, this is an international matter and not in our hands," said another pilgrim.

But despite the disappointment, there were some who said that the Indian government should never bow down to Chinese pressure.

"Yes we are disappointed to some extent but at the same time we are happy that our government is not bowing down to the demands of the Chinese," said one of the pilgrims.

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PM Modi in Netherlands: India a land of opportunities: Modi to Dutch CEO's

India is a land of opportunities with 1.25 billion people and 7%+ growth rate, said PM Modi, in a joint interaction with Dutch CEOs.

Government's reforms are aimed at enhancing ease of doing business & bringing Indian standards at par with global standards, he added.

Besides, Modi announced 'Dutch Indian Water Alliance for Leadership Initiative' (DIWALI) - a joint water tech initiative by India's Dept of S&T and Dutch Ministry of Eco Affairs.

Modi said the Netherlands is the 5th largest investment partner globally and in the last three years it has emerged as the 3rd largest source of FDI for the country. In the joint address, Dutch Prime Minister Rutte said India's emergence as a global power is a 'welcome development from both political and economic point of views.'

During the talks, both the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to climate change accord and strengthen cooperation in developing renewable energy. Ahead of the talks, Modi who is here on the final leg of his three-nation tour thanked the key European nation for backing India's Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) membership.

India, Netherlands sign 3 agreements

India and Netherlands on Tuesday exchanged MoU on Cultural coperation, Water coooperation and agreement on ammending social security arrangements. PM Narendra Modi and Dutch counterpart Mark Ruttel also present.

Earleir, in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch PM Mark Rutte issued a press statement on Tuesday at Catshuis, in the Hague.

PM Modi is on the final leg of his three-nation tour during which he will hold talks with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte to strengthen bilateral ties. Earlier, PM Modi was received by Dutch PM Mark Rutte at Catshuis, in the Hague.

'India is now a global economic power. We have plenty to offer to India,' said Dutch PM Mark Rutte at Catshuis.

'Bonds between Indian & Netherlands goes back to 1947 and these relations have become stronger over the years,' he said.

PM Modi thanked his counterpart for the warm welcome accorded to him and to his entire delegation.
'This visit was decided at a very short notice, would like to laud your leadership for the way it is organized, said PM Modi to Dutch PM Mark Rutte.

PM Modi recalled that with the help of Netherlands that India successfully got membership of Missile Technology Control Regime last year.

Modi will hold a meeting with CEOs of Dutch companies and call on King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima. He will also interact with the Indian community who form the second largest India diaspora in Europe.

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Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai: Naira (Shivangi Joshi), Karthik's (Mohsin Khan) hot bedroom romance leaked [VIDEO]

A video has been leaked from the sets of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai that shows Naira (Shivangi Joshi) and Karthik (Mohsin Khan) engaging in some hot romance.

The two characters will be seen dancing on the hit song "Tip Tip Barsa Pani" from Mohra in the next episode of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Naira and Karthik are one of the most loved TV couples, and this sizzling dance video of the two will surely make the viewers excited. Not just the dance sequence, the video shows Naira and Karthik engaging in some hot romance on the bed as well.

Much like Raveena Tandon in the original song video, Naira is seen wearing a yellow saree and seducing Karthik with her hot dance moves. However, this dance sequence does not include any rain as it has been shot inside a room. Some reports claimed that Shivangi and Mohsin have shot the entire song sequence in one take.

This seductive song sequence is likely to gain some more TRPs for the makers of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Naira and Karthik play the characters of a married couple on the show. The TV industry has of late undergone massive changes in its approach.

The TV stars are no more hesitant to shoot some steamy scenes when required. Not just on screen, several TV actresses have been making headlines for their sizzling bikini pictures on social media. Also, there are some producers who are now coming up with bold shows on television.

Even Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai producer is reportedly going to launch a new show titled "Love, Sex and Viagra". Going by the title, it is likely to have some really sensuous scenes as it is reportedly based on the concept of pre-marital sex. Watch the leaked dance sequence of Naira and Karthik from Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai:

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UFO spotted: Father-daughter spot mysterious lights in Germany night sky [VIDEO]

A father-daughter duo has reportedly spotted UFOs in the night sky in Germany. They were feeling suspicious about something in the sky which was not visible to the naked eyes.

These mysterious flying objects were not visible till they saw it using the infrared spectrum of their camera, Tyler Glockner from Secureteam 10 stated in a video.

The footage shows lights flashing while making a triangular formation. This finding was pretty mysterious and creepy as the UFOs spotted were not visible to the naked eyes and it's still not clear what it actually was.

The father and daughter wanted to remain anonymous, hence they removed the audio from the footage.

Check out this video to know more:

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Man jumps from 30-feet high metro station to avoid fine, survives

An 18-year-old man jumped off the concourse of Ghatkopar metro station here after he was found "tailgating" at the automatic fare collection gate and was being taken for questionning by the security personnel on Sunday.

The man, identified as Rajkumar, a native of Odisha, survived with a fractured knee and is recuperating at the civic-run Rajawadi Hospital in the suburb.

The distance between the concourse level and the ground is about 30 feet, a Mumbai Metro official said today.

Explaining the incident, he said Rajkumar panicked as the automatic fare collection (AFC) gate at Ghatkopar metro station didn't open after he inserted the token, following which the security personnel on duty caught him and were taking him for questionning, when he escaped and jumped off the concourse.

"The commuter had claimed he had boarded the metro from Sakinaka station. After getting down at Ghatkopar metro station, he inserted the electronic token in the AFC gate, but it didn't open as it could not detect the token," he said.

The Mumbai Metro, which operates the metro services, stated that Rajkumar was drunk at the time of the incident which occurred around 8:30 pm.

"At around 8.30 pm, a man under the influence of alcohol was tailgating the AFC gate at Ghatkopar station. When the security personnel nabbed him and were taking him for questioning, he tried to escape and jumped off the concourse level to the road. We immediately called an ambulance and informed the police. The man is being treated in Rajawadi Hospital," a Mumbai Metro spokesperson said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Metro official said the AFC gate did not open because as per rules, a commuter has to begin and finish his journey within one hour from the time of issuance of a token, which automatically becomes invalid after one hour.

"In this case, it is most likely that the commuter was wandering at different stations thus exhausting his one hour window (when he reached Ghatkopar)," the official said.

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Accused of trafficking, woman lynched by angry mob in West Bengal

In a shocking incident, an unidentified middle aged woman, accused of trafficking women has been lynched in Murshidabad district. The incident took place today in Sahapara, under the Raghunathganj Police station.

The middle aged woman was apparently caught by locals who alleged that she was trying to kidnap young girls from the area. On Tuesday morning, the woman was allegedly caught red-handed along with three of her accomplices, who managed to flee.

The woman was then tied to a tractor and brutally thrashed by an enraged mob who also cut off a portion of her hair. The lady was bleeding profusely from her nose when police reached the spot and rescued her.

The victim was later, identified as 52-year-old Otera Bibi, is a resident of Mithipur village under Raghunathganj police station. She was apparently undergoing psychiatric treatment for over a year.

She was later rushed her to the Jangipur Sub Divisional Hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. Police is probing the case and no arrests have been made so far.

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Indrani alleges she was beaten up in Byculla jail, moves court

Sheena Bora murder case accused Indrani Mukerjea, booked for rioting in a women's prison here along with other inmates, today moved a court alleging that she was beaten up by the jail officials after the death of a convict sparked a protest in the prison.

Taking note of her complaint, a CBI court, which is hearing the Sheena murder case, directed the prison authorities to produce Indrani before it tomorrow.

The former media executive's lawyer Gunjan Mangla filed an application in the court saying when she went to meet Indrani she told her that she was beaten up by the jail officials after the death of the woman prisoner.

"She showed me her bruise marks and injuries which were very prominent on her hands, legs and head," the lawyer claimed in the application.

Gunjan said Indrani also said that she was verbally abused by jail officials and the superintendent and was threatened of sexual assault for protesting against the death in jail.

Following the death of Manju Govind Shette on Friday, the enraged inmates rose in protest on Saturday, some of them went up to the prison's terrace while others made a bonfire of newspapers and documents inside the premises to express their anger.

Later, the Nagpada police booked nearly 200 inmates of the Byculla jail, including Indrani, for rioting, unlawful assembly, assault on a public servant and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Gunjan said Indrani requested her to bring the incident before the court and seek her production to lodge a complaint against the jail officials.

"She informed me that several inmates want to give their statements against the jail officials who were involved in the incident," the lawyer said.

When judge J C Jagdale asked the lawyer if Indrani wants to file an FIR, she said "yes".
An official from the prison department had alleged that Indrani "instigated" the inmates by asking them to shun food and "use their children as shields" when prison staffers tried to stop them from agitating and gathering together.

Meanwhile, police today said that Manju, whose death sparked protests in the prison, was allegedly tortured and a stick was inserted in her private parts.

Manju (45) died at the government-run J J Hospital on Friday night after allegedly being beaten up by a woman official of the jail on June 23.

"These allegations are part of the FIR filed against the jail staff. We are probing the matter," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-3), Akhilesh Singh told PTI.

The Nagpada police, investigating the case, have filed an offence of murder against the jail staff.

"We are seeking information from eyewitnesses and other inmates in this connection," a police official said.

Declining to comment on the matter, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Bhushankumar Upadhyay said, "Police have registered an offence against the jail staff and an investigation is on."
Six jail staffers were placed under suspension and police registered a case under IPC section 302 (punishment for murder) against them.

The jail, located in the heart of the city, houses around 251 inmates.

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Ravi Shastri applies for India coach job: Virat Kohli finally happy?

Several reports have emerged on Tuesday June 27 that former India cricket team director Ravi Shastri is throwing his hat for the post of the India cricket team coach. Shastri, as we know, is one candidate Virat Kohli is very keen of having on board.

With Anil Kumble 'humilated' to quit from his position last week, Shastri got the perfect opportunity to rekindle his ambitions.

The writing might be on the wall now, with the next coach of Team India being decided before the Sri Lanka vs India 2017 cricket series.

Shastri acted as the team director from August 2014 to April 2016, before Kumble took over as the chieftain of the side.

"Yes, I have decided to apply for the job," Shastri has been quoted as saying by The Indian Express on Tuesday.

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Woman allegedly abducted from Gurgaon, gangraped in car, dumped in Greater Noida

A 35-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a group of men in a moving car on Monday night, police said.

The woman was allegedly abducted from Sohna in Gurgaon and dumped in Greater Noida after an eight-hour assault, which put the spotlight on the safety of women in national capital Delhi and areas surrounding it.

UP police at sector 29 police station Gurgaon. @HTGurgaon @htTweets pic.twitter.com/cAXKQBVMg3

— abhishekbehl (@abhishekbehl) June 20, 2017

India brought in more stringent laws against sexual offenders after the fatal gang-rape of a student in Delhi in December 2012, but they have failed to stem the tide of violence against women across the country.

"The victim has claimed that she was picked up at around 8.30pm on Monday in Gurgaon. She was allegedly raped in the car while the accused were driving around," said Suniti, superintendent of police (Noida Rural), said.

The woman, believed to be a resident of Bharatpur in Rajasthan who had come to Sohna for work, was thrown out of the car in Greater Noida around 4am, the official said.

Police said the woman was spotted crying in front of Yatharth Hospital in the jurisdiction of Kasna
police station. She was later taken to a hospital for medical examination.

Gurgaon police commissioner Sandeep Khirwar at sector 29 police station to probe the rape case. @HTGurgaon @htTweets pic.twitter.com/WJoGjpxYXN

— abhishekbehl (@abhishekbehl) June 20, 2017

Greater Noida police also said they were coordinating with Gurgaon officials for the investigation. A team of Greater Noida police brought the victim to Sector 29 police station in Gurgaon. Gurgaon police commissioner Sandeep Khirwar has also reached the Sector 29 police station to oversee the investigations.

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GST will be launched on midnight of June 30, says Arun Jaitley

Mumbai: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will definitely rollout at the stroke of midnight of June 30.

Addressing the media in New Delhi, he said the inaugration ceremony will take in the Central Hall of Parliament. It will be attended by the President, Vice president and Prime Minister. The President and the Prime Minister will speak on the subject of GST.

He added that two short films made on GST will also be screened on that day.

#WATCH : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses the media in Delhi https://t.co/GgDfYxEIoO

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 20, 2017

Addressing the question of GST's impact on GDP, he said "I anticipate in the long term, being a more efficient system, the revenue inflow and spending capacity of the centre and the states will increase and have a consequent impact on GDP".

Jaitley further said that all reforms are initially seen as "disruptive". However, in the long run they become "result-yielding". "There will be short-term challenges in the switch over. That is why I have extended the date for filing of GST returns. Industry and trade will have to prepare themselves. It is not very complicated," he said.

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International Yoga Day 2017: Top 5 smartphone apps for beginners and advanced practitioners

Are you one of the hundreds of people who want to take up yoga, but cannot seem to find the right trainer? Well, we have the answer to your dilemma.

There are several apps on both Android-based Google Play and Apple iOS App stores, which offer training modules on yoga that you can follow in the cosy comforts of your home.

Here are our top five handpicked yoga apps (found on both Apple and Google Play), which will help get you get the required information on authentic yoga poses:

Daily Yoga (by Daily Yoga Software Technology Co. Ltd):

Features:

500+ yoga poses with detailed instructions

100+ yoga classes & programs with HD video updated monthly

Multiple choices for session duration varying from 5 - 70 minutes with numerous yoga music available

Scheduled plans for boot camp, body toning, weight loss, strength, flexibility, relaxation, balance, menstruation, body detox, meditation etc. with more than 10 experts
Also supports Chrome cast and Google Fit

Yoga Studio (by Gaiam):

Features:

Best suited for beginners and also advanced yoga practitioners

65 yoga & meditation classes with HD video

Easily customisable; users can also create their own unique HD video classes to share

Library of over 280 poses with detailed advice and instructions

Yoga - Track Yoga (by Eternal Karma Inc.):

Features:

Offers access to a personal yoga instructor. Any yoga-related question such as vinyasa yoga, hatha yoga, yoga breathing, yoga routine, yoga for depression, yoga for runners, yin yoga, ashtanga yoga, core yoga, power yoga, iyengar yoga, pure yoga, yoga fitness, yoga asanas and Baba Ramdev yoga answered within 24 hours.

Yoga instructors teach hatha yoga regularly and are well qualified and experts.

Programs offered include Beginners Mind, Flexibility Series, Full Body Fitness Yoga for Depression and Yoga Workout

Freestyle classes include Stress Relief, Beginner's Mind, Back Pain Relief, Cold & Flu Relief,
Strength Builder, Morning Yoga, Bedtime Yoga, Digestion Booster, Yoga for Balance and more.

Asana Rebel - Yoga & Fitness (by Asana Rebel):

Features:

Ideal for any level - beginners or experienced yogis

Detailed video tutorials for better alignment

Simple workouts ranging from 10 - 30 minutes

More than 400 workout variations that adapt to your fitness level and goals

Yoga tools from Sadhguru (by Isha Foundation):

Features:

Offers specialised training for different aspects, including health, peace of mind, inner exploration

Upa Yoga, which is oriented towards physical and psychological benefits such as enhancing vitality, focus, memory, productivity, stabilize the body, mind and emotions, among others

Detailed practice guidelines

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Over 2,000 families displaced due to Tripura floods

Agartala, June 20: Heavy monsoon rain disrupted life in Tripura as over 2,000 families were displaced after their houses were inundated by the flood water, official said here on Tuesday.

The displaced families belonging to sub-divisions -- Sadar, Jirania and Mohanpur in West Tripura district and Khowai and Teliamura in Khowai district, were put up in 50 relief camps, the official said.

'Heavy monsoon rain since Sunday night flooded the low-lying areas, roads, inhabited areas in five sub-divisions of two districts of Tripura,' the Disaster Management Control Centre official added.
He said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Tripura State Rifles teams and officials of the district administrations have been deployed to provide relief and rescue to the affected people.
Several rivers including Howra and Khowai were flowing above the danger mark.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar held a high level meeting here on Monday night to review the situation.
Sarkar has asked the district administrations to open the control rooms in the affected districts round-the-clock to monitor and to take immediate steps to assist the people, the official added.

Meteorological Department Director Dilip Saha said more rain was expected till Thursday.

'In June, 695 mm rainfall was recorded in Agartala against the expected normal monsoon rainfall of 421 mm,' Saha said.

The four-month-long (June-September) Southwest Monsoon was now active in the entire northeastern region, comprising eight states.

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Sikkim tourism benefiting from Darjeeling unrest

Gangtok, Jun 20: The unrest in Darjeeling in the peak tourist season has come as a boon for Sikkim with tourists thronging the neighbouring hill state instead of Darjeeling in view of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha agitation.

'The tension in Darjeeling has led to a sudden boom in the tourism industry here,' Secretary, Sikkim Tourism, C Zangpo said.

The GJM agitation in Darjeeling led to the cancellation of bookings by domestic and foreign tourists in the 'Queen of hill stations' and make travel arrangements in Sikkim, he said.

'Tourism related establishments in Gangtok are currently packed with customers and have full bookings in the coming days as well,' Zangpo states.

The Sikkim Tourism secretary said that almost all the tourists who are now visiting Sikkim were supposed to visit Darjeeling on the second leg of their journey or had been there before reaching Sikkim. Travel operators, however, are worried as it is difficult to manage so many tourists at a time, and the secretary also echoed similar views.

'We have asked travel operators and hotels to try and accommodate as many tourists as they can without compromising on the service standards as any mismanagement at this time could give a bad name to the tourism industry,' Zangpo said.

Hotels presently have bookings upto mid-July and they have now started cancelling new booking enquiries, one of the travel operators said. Santanu Bose, a tourist from Kolkata, said, 'We had been in Darjeeling for holidaying when all this happened. Our travel agent immediately contacted operators in Sikkim and we were lucky to get reservations.'

Many tourists, however, had to cut short their visit and return, Bose told PTI at the Mall here.

'We spent only one night in Darjeeling. We are enjoying our stay here now,' he said.

As the tourists from Sikkim were now being provided Sikkim Nationalised Transport buses every day with security, they are feeling secure that they will not get stuck in the hills because of the ongoing bandh.

Since June 8, Darjeeling has witnessed clashes between GJM activists and police over the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state. Sikkim government sources they had requested their West Bengal counterpart on Sunday to provide security to vehicles passing through NH 31A in Darjeeling district in view of the agitation.

The West Bengal government had assured them that security would be provided to Sikkim-bound vehicles and the police would carry out extensive patrolling on the highway. The 92 km long NH 31A connects Sevoke in Darjeeling district to Gangtok and is considered the lifeline of Sikkim. Around 30 km of the highway passes through West Bengal.

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ICC Champions Trophy: Triumphant Pakistan cricketers given heroes' welcome back home

Lahore, June 20: Pakistan cricket team were given heroes' welcome when they arrived home after winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England.

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and his boys were welcomed by a sea of supporters gathered outside Lahore and Karachi airports.

Fans cheered their cricket team which came out victorious in the high-voltage final against arch-rivals India at The Oval on Sunday (June 18).

Sarfraz has become a national hero for a nation which is crazy just like India, when it comes to cricket.

Fans welcomed their heroes with chants of 'Pakistan Zindabad' and showered petals upon the cricketers' cavalcade when they headed towards their respective houses.

A sea of supporters gathered outside the residence of skipper Sarfraz in Karachi to congratulate him for leading the Pakistan cricket team to its maiden Champions Trophy win. The well-wishers thronged the neighbourhood with Pakistan flags and climbed on rooftops and balconies to get a glimpse of their hero.

A spirited Pakistan defeated defending champions and title favourites India by 180 runs in the final, to register a historic win. Chasing a daunting target of 339, India witnessed a rare batting collapse to be outclassed by Pakistan in the one-sided match.

Promising young opener Fakhar Zaman slammed a superb century to guide Pakistan to a challenging total against India after being invited to bat first.

Zaman, however, had his share of luck when he was got a breather at 3 after Jasprit Bumrah got him caught behind on a no-ball. The 27-year-old never looked back from then on and went on punishing Indian bowlers for Bumrah's folly.

Star Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir then produced a fiery spell to push India on the back foot as Men In Blue couldn't recover from their early losses.

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FIR lodged over fake letter stating action against properties not linked with Aadhar

The police on Monday registered a case of forgery on a complaint by a senior government official alleging that a fake letter issued by the cabinet secretariat about digitisation of land records, was being circulated with his forged signature.

The case was registered against unidentified persons on the complaint of Sheo Nath Singh, an undersecretary in the government whose signature is there on the letter, the police said.

The letter, which emerged on WhatsApp and has Cabinet Secretariat written on the top, reportedly mandated all the chief secretaries, additional chief secretaries of states and union territories to "complete the digitisation of land records, sale records from 1950 by August 14."

It also said the government was "considering linking Aadhar numbers with the ownership of said properties" and that those properties that were not linked shall be considered for action under the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amended Act, 2016.

In his complaint, Singh said it was only after he started getting calls from people asking about the cabinet notification dated June 15 that he came to know about the matter.

The police said they have lodged an FIR at South Avenue police station under various sections of IPC pertaining to forgery of government document.

The letter attributed to Cabinet Secretariat on #Aadhaar linking to Land records,is completely fake & mischievous pic.twitter.com/qbk6TsyiII

— Frank Noronha (@DG_PIB) June 19, 2017

Director General of Press Information Bureau (PIB), Frank Noronha also tweeted about the fake letter.

"The letter attributed to Cabinet Secretariat on #Aadhaar linking to Land records, is completely fake & mischievous," he said.

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Bihar won't participate in International Yoga Day 'publicity stunt': Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday took a dig at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government over the International Yoga Day (IYD) preparations and termed the government's efforts in this regard a 'publicity stunt'.

Making these remarks while addressing a press conference here, Nitish said he was not against yoga but did not approve of such publicity stunts.

"I am not against yoga day but I don't like publicity stunts on this (IYD). I also do yoga but have never advertised it," said Nitish.

He also announced that the Bihar Government won't participate in IYD by saying "we don't believe in advertisement".

Nitish shares sweet and sour relations with Prime Minister Modi, as the political tussle between the two leaders is not new.

Nitish's party Janata Dal (United) was an important ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led NDA for almost two decades.

For the first time, the rift between the two leaders came to fore when Nitish reportedly insisted the BJP top brass to keep then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi out of campaigning in 2005 Bihar assembly elections after the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) performed very well in Bihar in 2004 General Elections.

Reports said that Nitish was against the Gujarat Chief Minister's campaigning in Bihar over the 2002 Gujarat riots and believed his campaigning would keep Muslims voters away from the NDA.
The Bihar Chief Minister's distance from then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi continued during 2010 Bihar Assembly elections as well as the 2009 General elections.However, probably Nitish Kumar was the only opposition leader who openly supported Prime Minister Modi's decision of the demonetisation.

Modi Government has made grand plans for the forthcoming International Yoga Day.
The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has been working tirelessly to make the International Yoga Day functions across the country and world a grand success.

Union government's 74 ministers would take part in Yoga Day functions in 74 cities on June 21.
Prime Minister Modi would take part in Yoga day function in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow where AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik would also be present.

AYUSH Ministry is working day and night to make the International Yoga Day a big success not only at national level but also at international level. It has written letters to different Ambassadors and Embassies and urged to make the event successful.

International Yoga Day is celebrated annually on 21 June since its inception in 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his UN address had suggested the date of 21 June, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares special significance in many parts of the world.

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NASA's Kepler space telescope discovers over 200 new planet candidates

Washington, June 20: Around 219 new planet candidates were discovered outside our Solar System by US space agency NASA through its Kepler space telescope.

The Kepler spacecraft was launched in 2009. Its mission is to search the nearby region of our galaxy for exoplanets by detecting a transit, or the miniscule drop in a star's brightness that occurs when a planet crosses in front of it.

'Of those, 10 are near-Earth size and orbiting in their star's habitable zone, which is the range of distance from a star where liquid water could pool on the surface of a rocky planet to support life,' Xinhua news cited a NASA statement on Monday.

With the latest release, Kepler has detected a total of 4,034 planet candidates, of which 2,335 have been verified as exoplanets.

Of roughly 50 near-Earth size habitable zone candidates detected by Kepler, more than 30 have been verified.

'This is the most comprehensive and detailed catalog release of candidate exoplanets, which are planets outside our solar system, from Kepler's first four years of data,' NASA said in a statement.
'It's also the final catalog from the spacecraft's view of the patch of sky in the Cygnus constellation,' it said.

According to NASA, few planets were found between the two distinct size groupings of small planets. One is rocky Earth-like bodies and another gaseous planets smaller than Jupiter.

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5 reasons for India's shambolic defeat against Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy final

Defending champions and title favourites India were badly bruised and battered by a spirited Pakistan as they were defeated by 180 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy final on Sunday (June 18).

Chasing a daunting target of 339, India witnessed a rare batting collapse to be outclassed by Pakistan in the high-voltage game that became one-sided.

Promising young opener Fakhar Zaman slammed a super century to guide Pakistan to a challenging total against arch-rivals India after being invited to bat first.

Zaman, however, had his share of luck when he was got a breather at 3 after Jasprit Bumrah got him caught behind on a no-ball. The 27-year-old never looked back from then on and went on punishing Indian bowlers for Bumrah's folly.

Mohammad Amir then produced a fiery spell to push India on the back foot as Men In Blue couldn't recover from their early losses.

Barring Hardik Pandya, no Indian batsman managed to challenge Pakistan bowler and kept losing wickets at regular intervals to be bundled out for 158 in 30.2 overs.

Luck also seemed to have evaded the Indian cricket team as they never managed to pose any threat to Pakistan all through the match.

Here are 5 reasons for India's shambolic defeat against Pakistan in the final:

1. Decision to chase backfired

India skipper Virat Kohli's decision of inviting Pakistan to bat after after winning the toss backfired.

Ideally, India should have stuck to the plan of batting after winning the toss because Pakistan is a really bad side when it comes to chasing.

Pakistan have always struggled to chase a total past 250 and a score past 300 could have helped given India the psychological advantage while defending the target.

Even in the previous game between the two teams, Pakistan won the toss and invited India to bat first. Team India posted a total past 300 and registered a 124-run win via Duckworth-Lewis Method against Pakistan in that game. Team India should have stuck to the same plan.

India, perhaps, became over-confident about their chasing skills and misread the pressure of a final game. Adding up to India's woes, Pakistan batsmen went on posting a mammoth 338/4 in the stipulated 50 overs.

Chasing a target past 300 is never easy and Team India succumbed to the pressure of chasing a daunting total.


2. Playing two spinners proved costly for India

The biggest set back that India faced in this tournament was the inability of their spinners to pick up wickets. Indian spinner were seen troubling against every opponent in this tournament and their story in the final against Pakistan was no different.

Indian spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja proved very costly against Pakistan and failed to take wickets.

Ashwin and Jadeja together leaked 137 runs from 18 overs against Pakistan and accounted for just 1 wicket.

The failure of Jadeja as well as Ashwin to take wickets and bowl economically further put pressure upon Indian pacers who also went for runs. Ashwin's 0/70 against Pakistan at The Oval is the worst performance from the off-spinner in the ODIs.

Therefore, India should have picked up an extra pacer instead of playing Ashwin for a simple reason that Pakistani batsmen play spinners better.

Kohli, therefore, should have gone with either Umesh Yadav or Mohammed Shami in the finals for Pakistan batsmen could have been troubled by pacers.


3. Jasprit Bumrah's No-Ball against Fakhar Zaman

Wickets on no-balls have always cost India in big matches. To freshen up your memories remember R Ashwin's no-ball against Lendl Simmons in last year's ICC World T20 semi-final.

Ashwin overstepped to give Simmons a reprieve when he wasn't settled at the crease. Having got a breather, Simmons then made India pay for their no-ball and knocked them out of the tournament.

Something similar happened during the Champions Trophy final against Pakistan and pacer Jasprit Bumrah was the culprit this time. Bumrah got Pakistan's in-form opener Fakhar Zaman caught behind the stumps when he was batting at 3 but Jasprit Bumrah had over stepped to be called a no ball.

The 27-year-old left-handed batsman made the most of the breather he got and made India pay for it as he added another 111 runs to his individual total from there on.

Bumrah has always had a penchant for bowling no-balls for he bowled a couple of them against Pakistan as well.


4. Mohammad Amir's fiery spell

Pakistan pace spearhead, Mohammad Amir was coming back into side after missing out the previous game due to spasm. But the left-arm pacer justified his skipper's decision of preferring him over Rumman Raees, who was particularly effective against England in the semi-final, with his superlative bowling spell.

Amir rattled the Indian top-order as he took the first three wickets to push India on the backfoot in the first powerplay. Pakistan came into the driver's seat as Amir scalped the big fishes in Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan.

Amir removed dangerous Rohit Sharma in the first over, got rid of Virat Kohli in his second over to push India to the wall. He looked very upset as Kohli was dropped at slip on the third ball of his second over, but the southpaw came back strongly and got rid of Kohli for (5) on the very next delivery to put his team in a commanding position.

Amir, later, claimed another in-form India batsman Shikhar Dhawan for 21. India could never recover from the three big jolts caused by the southpaw.


5. Kohli didn't think out of the box after top-order collapse

As India lost three wickets within ten overs, the skipper should have come up with an out of the box thinking in the run chase.

After the top order's rare blip, Kohli should have promoted Hardik Pandya or Kedar Jadhav in the powerplay above Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni.

Yuvraj and Dhoni's presence should have kept the Pakistani bowlers at the tenterhooks while Pandya and Jadhav's aggressive batting could have helped the team to recover from the early jolts.

Understanding the gravity of the matter the skipper as well as team management should have taken a bold move instead of sticking to a predictable line-up.

Kohli should have taken a leaf out of Dhoni's book from the 2011 WC final, when the skipper promoted himself above in-form Yuvraj to counter Muttiah Muralitharan's spin.

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One dead as vehicle rams worshippers outside London mosque, attacker yelled he'll 'kill all Muslims'

A van ploughed into worshippers leaving a London mosque on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring 10 others in what witnesses said was a deliberate attack on Muslims.
The hired vehicle swerved into a group of people leaving prayers shortly after midnight at the Finsbury Park Mosque, one of the biggest in the country, witnesses said. The attack comes during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"This big van just came and went all over us," witness Abdulrahman Saleh Alamoudi told BuzzFeed News. "He was screaming... 'I'm going to kill all Muslims'."

British Prime Minister Theresa May said police had confirmed it was being treated as a potential terrorist attack and said she would chair an emergency response meeting later on Monday.
"All my thoughts are with the victims, their families and the emergency services on the scene," she said.

Police said one man was pronounced dead at the scene and that the van driver, aged 48, had been detained by members of the public before being arrested. The driver would undergo a mental health assessment in due course, police said.

Eight people were taken to hospital, while two were treated at the scene.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said extra police had been deployed to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan, describing the attack as "an assault on all our shared values of tolerance, freedom and respect".

The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, in whose constituency the attack took place, said he was "totally shocked".

The incident comes just over two weeks after three Islamist militants drove into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed people at nearby restaurants and bars, killing eight. .
"Attack on Muslims"

The Muslim Council of Britain said Monday's attack was the most violent manifestation of Islamophobia in Britain in recent months and called for extra security at places of worship.

"It appears that a white man in a van intentionally ploughed into a group of worshippers who were already tending to someone who had been taken ill," the council said in a statement.

Police said they were called just after 12:20 am (2320 GMT Sunday) to reports of a collision on Seven Sisters Road, which runs through the Finsbury Park area of north London.

"From the window, I started hearing a lot of yelling and screeching, a lot of chaos outside. . Everybody was shouting: 'A van's hit people, a van's hit people'," one woman who lives opposite the scene told the BBC.

Police officers man a cordon at Finsbury Park where a vehicle struck pedestrians in London on Monday. (AP)
"There was this white van stopped outside Finsbury Park mosque that seemed to have hit people who were coming out after prayers had finished."

The attack comes at a time of political turmoil in Britain, as Prime Minister May plunges into divorce talks with the European Union weakened by the loss of her parliamentary majority in a June 8 election.

She has faced heavy criticism for her response to a fire in a London tower block on Wednesday which killed at least 58 people, and for her record on security after a series of attacks blamed on Islamist militants in recent months.

One witness told CNN it was clear that the attacker at Finsbury Park had deliberately targeted Muslims.

"He tried to kill a lot of people so obviously it's a terrorist attack. He targeted Muslims this time," the witness, identified only as Rayan, said.

Other witnesses told Sky television that the van had hit at least 10 people. The Evening Standard newspaper said the van appeared to have been rented in Wales, although there was no immediate confirmation of this from the authorities.

Police officers attend to the scene after a vehicle collided with pedestrians in the Finsbury Park neighbourhood of North London. (REUTERS)
'Deliberately swerved'

Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said the van had deliberately swerved into a group of people who were helping a man who was ill and had fallen to the ground.

"Basically, a van swerved into them deliberately," Versi told Reuters, citing a witness.
He said the driver had run out of the van but a group of people caught him and held him until police arrived.

The incident followed a series of attacks in Britain.

Eight people were killed and 50 injured on June 3 when three Islamist militants drove into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed people at nearby restaurants and bars.

On March 22, a man drove a rented car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in London and stabbed a policeman to death before being shot dead. His attack killed five people.

On May 22, a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a concert by American pop singer Ariana Grande in Manchester in northern England.

The attacks were a factor in campaigning ahead of the June 8 election, with May criticised for overseeing a drop of 20,000 in the number of police officers in England and Wales as interior minister from 2010 to 2016.

She was also criticised for keeping her distance from angry residents during her visit to the charred remains of the 24-storey Grenfell Tower. She said on Saturday the response to the fire had been "not good enough".

The Finsbury Park Mosque gained notoriety more than a decade ago for sermons by radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri, who was sentenced to life in a US prison in January 2015 for his conviction on terrorism-related charges.

A new board of trustees and management took over in February 2005, a year after Abu Hamza was arrested by British police, since when attendance has greatly increased among worshippers from various communities, according to the mosque's website.

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