LIVE! Nitish launches campaign to end dowry, child marriage

LIVE

Mon, 02 October 2017

Nitish launches campaign to end dowry, child marriage

Timeline Refresh

21:28 Nitish launches campaign to end dowry, child marriage

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today launched a statewide campaign to abolish child marriage and dowry, drawing strength from the campaign he had launched last year to make the state alcohol-free.

He also said a human chain would be formed in support of the campaign on January 21, 2018.

"We had implemented prohibition in the state last year and launched a massive campaign in its support by forming a human chain on January 21, 2017.... Similarly, I would appeal to all of you to form a human chain on January 21, 2018 in support of the campaign to put an end to the wrong practices of child marriage and dowry," Kumar said.

On January 21 this year, Bihar had formed the world's largest human chain, as per the government's claim, in support of the liquor ban with Kumar, leaders from various political parties and citizens holding each other's hands at the Gandhi Maidan in the state capital.

Kumar appealed to all the sections of the society to put an end to social evils such as child marriage and dowry and not politicise them.

"Do not view everything from a political angle," he said.

21:02 Vegas shooting was an act of pure evil: Trump

US President Donald Trump on Monday called the mass shooting in Las Vegas "an act of pure evil," and said he would visit Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with victims' families and first responders.

"We are praying for you and we are here for you," Trump said in a live statement from the White House Diplomatic Room. "We ask God to help see you through this very dark period."

The US president struck a note of unity following the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday night, which authorities say left at least 50 people dead and as many as 400 injured. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

"Our unity cannot be shattered by evil," Trump said. "Our bonds cannot be broken by violence. And though we feel such great anger at the senseless murder of our fellow citizens, it is our love that defines us today -- and always will, forever."

Trump also thanked first responders "for their courageous efforts and for helping to save the lives of so many.

"The speed with which they acted is miraculous, and prevented further loss of life. To have found the shooter so quickly, so soon after the first shots were fired ... shows what true professionalism is all about."

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a shooting that killed at least 50 people and wounded over 400 in Las Vegas early on Monday, and said the attacker had converted to Islam a few months ago.

"The Las Vegas attack was carried out by a soldier of the Islamic State and he carried it out in response to calls to target states of the coalition," the group's news agency Amaq said in reference to the US-led coalition fighting the group in the Middle East.

"The Las Vegas attacker converted to Islam a few months ago," Amaq added.

However, two senior US officials said there was no evidence at the time that the Las Vegas shooter was connected to any international militant group

The worst mass shooting in modern American history has taken place in Las Vegas, killing 50 people and wounding over 200.

Survivor's accounts are already being posted online, including one story about taking cover in the freezer of a McDonald's restaurant.

Marie-Sophie, a blogger from Germany, tweeted in the early hours of the morning to say she and others had hidden inside the freezer of a McDonald's.

"The day fast food saved my life. Scariest night ever. Forever thankful to the Mc Donalds Manager who locked us in her freezer," she wrote.

According to her Instagram, Marie-Sophie was seeing the sights around Nevada, before heading to Las Vegas.

She and friends had been taking part in a road trip across the United States.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will arrive at Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on October 3 on an official visit to have a bilateral meeting with the Finance Minister of Bangladesh Abul Maal A Muhith.

After Inaugural Address at the Business Meeting of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, the minister is most likely to sign Dollar Credit Line Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and Export-Import Bank of India.

The finance minister will also throw light on the topic "Macroeconomic Initiatives of the Government of India: Financial Inclusion, Demonetization and Cashless Economy". Arun Jaitley and Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal A Muhith will launch the Cashless Visa Services in Bangladesh.

He will return back to India on October 5 after completing his two-day official visit.

19:56 Prakash Raj calls Modi 'bigger actor' than him

Noted actor and National Award winner Prakash Raj on Monday launched a scathing attack against Narendra Modi over his silence on the Gauri Lankesh murder, saying the prime minister is a bigger actor than him.

"The PM is is a bigger actor than me, I should give him my award," he said

There is a huge crowd out there enjoying and celebrating it (Gauri Lankeshs murder) on social media. We all know what their ideology is. Some of those celebrating this ghastly episode are being followed by none other than Narendra Modi himself. This worries me, Deccan Chronicle quoted Raj as saying at the 11th state meet of the Left-leaning Democratic Youth Federation of India.

Raj said Modis silence on his followers actions proves he is trying to be a bigger actor than me.

"I am a renowned actor, do you (Modi) think I will not be able to detect when you are acting. At least show me some respect, considering the fact that I am an actor and I will be able to tell what is the truth and what is acting," a report in News Minute quoted him as saying.

19:42

JUST IN: Grenade lobbed towards a joint police/army naka party in Baramulla's Juhama in Jammu-Kashmir, 2 policemen injured. Case registered.

19:24 Taj Mahal fails to find place in UP tourism booklet

The monument which attracts tourists from across the globe to Uttar Pradesh and is also the only Indian structure featuring among the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal, has failed to find a spot in the states latest tourism booklet.

The booklet, Uttar Pradesh Paryatan Apaar Sambhavnayen, published by the UP tourism department, was released on World Tourism Day.

Almost all tourist spots in Uttar Pradesh have been covered in the booklet. The Uttar Pradesh government later clarified that they would include a picture of the Taj Mahal in the booklet.

In June this year, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that according to him, the Ramayana and Bhagwad Gita represent the Indian culture and not the Taj Mahal.

The Adityanath-led BJP governments first state budget for 2017-18 had also made no mention of the Taj Mahal in its special section Hamari Sanskritik Virasat (Our Cultural Heritage) that was incorporated in the finance ministers 63-page statement.

19:04

JUST IN: Infiltration bid foiled in Jammu and Kashmir's Tangdhar, two terrorists killed. Weapons recovered. Search operation continues

18:52 Aditya Narayan shouts at airline staff member at Raipur airport

Aditya Narayan, who appears on TV shows and is the son of Bollywood singer Udit Narayan, has been caught on camera shouting at staff of Indigo Airlines at Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

At one point he threatens to strip the official, who speaks to Narayan, 30, in a measured tone right through the footage shared widely on social media today.

"Let me reach Mumbai. If I don't strip you, then my name is not Aditya Narayan," he shouted in the footage, apparently shot by a co-passenger. Indigo said it allowed him to travel after he apologised to its ground staff.

The incident happened this morning, the Indigo statement said when a woman staff member told Aditya Narayan's group that they would have to pay Rs 13,000 more for the 40 kg of excess baggage that they had while traveling from Raipur to Mumbai, where he lives.

Narayan, who is also a singer, was travelling with five other people, refused to pay more than Rs 10,000, Indigo said, and alleged that he used "unparliamentary language with the female staff member."

When the duty manager intervened, and politely asked the singer to be civil and not to abusive language with women and other passengers present, he shouted even louder, the airline said, adding that it refraining from quoting him. "He was informed that if he continues to misbehave he will not be allowed to travel," the statement said.

IndiGo emphasised that it would not compromise on "the dignity of our staff members or passengers."

Myanmar today proposed to take back over half a million of its Rohingyas from Bangladesh as the two countries agreed to set up a working group to coordinate the repatriation of the minority Muslims who have fled across

the border after a military crackdown.

More than half a million Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh over the last five weeks after militant attacks on police checkposts in the Buddhist majority country sparked violent reprisals. Bangladesh has repeatedly urged Myanmar to repatriate them.

Bangladesh's Foreign minister A H Mahmood Ali today held talks here with a senior representative of Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Myanmar has proposed to take back the Rohingyas from Bangladesh," Ali told newsmen emerging from an over one hour long meeting with Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor of Myanmar Kyaw Tint Swe.

The two sides agreed on forming a joint working group to oversee the repatriation process but its composition would be decided later by both the countries, he said.

BHU Vice Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi, under the spotlight for his handling of student protests last month, today proceeded on leave, citing personal reasons, university officials said.

Tripathi, who was scheduled to retire on November 30, has gone on "indefinite leave", BHU officials said.

The development comes amid indications from top HRD ministry sources that the central government was upset with the manner in which he handled the entire episode, including a protest by women students following an incident of alleged harassment.

University administration called the police to the campus. A number of students were injured in the police lathi-charge.

Tripathi had claimed he would resign if asked to go on leave.

Calls and messages to Tripathi did not elicit any response.

The ministry has already started the routine process of shortlisting Tripathi's successor.

Sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dinakaran was today booked and 10 of his supporters were held in connection with distribution of pamphlets allegedly containing defamatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra

Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami here.

Former MLA Venkatachalam and local AIADMK functionary Saravanan were among the 10 arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by one Vinayakam, alleging that the accused were found distributing the pamphlets among the public outside a hall, where Palaniswami was holding a meeting with senior officials yesterday.

The pamphlets contained "derogatory remarks" against the prime minister and the chief minister, the police said.

Dinakaran and his loyalists P Vetrivel, one of the 18 AIADMK MLAs recently disqualified from the Tamil Nadu assembly under the anti-defection law, and V Pugazhenthi have also been named as accused in the case, the police said.

This is the second case slapped against Dinakaran, who is engaged in a tussle for power with Palaniswami, by the state police.

BJP chief Amit Shah will tomorrow launch a 15-day march in Kerala to target the state's CPI-M government with the BJP accusing the Left party of being on a "killing spree" against its workers.

Making the announcement, Union minister Prakash Javadekar today accused the CPI-M of "murder politics", claiming that it had become desperate due to the saffron party's growing popularity and had started state-sponsored violence against its workers.

Shah will kick off the 'jan raksha yatra' (people's protection march) from Payyannur in Kannur, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's home town, and it will wind through the state before ending in Thiruvananthapuram on October 17.

"The CPI-M is desperate and on a killing spree. It is doing murder politics in its desperation and people, including from the CPI-M, are joining the BJP. We will use democratic means to answer its violence," Javadekar told a press conference.

As many as 120 BJP workers, 84 in Kannur alone, have been killed in the state since 2001 with 14 of them in the chief minister's home town since he took the reigns last year, he alleged.

The suspect in the Las Vegas shooting has been named as Stephen Paddock, whose date of birth was revealed at 4/9/53 -- meaning he's 64-years-old.

On Sunday, a gunman opened fire on a revellers at a country music festival near Mandalay Casino in Las Vegas prompting authorities to shut down the boulevard.

Las Vegas Metro Police Sheriff Joseph Lombardo confirmed that the toll in the attack has gone up to 50 while another 200 are injured.

The death toll of at least 50 people killed makes this the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

It surpasses the Orlando shooting at the Pulse nightclub in June 2016 when 49 people were killed.

Lombardo also said that they were still searching for Marilou Danley, the suspected shooter's companion. He also confirmed that the shooter had opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

15:34 BJP governors make a beeline for Pranab

The governors conference will be held in New Delhi on October 12 and 13, the first convened by Ram Nath Kovind after becoming President.

An informal governors conference without the President and prime minister is being held on October 11, which Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan as the Doyen of Governors will preside over, to discuss the sub-groups of last year's conference and their report.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has indicated that he would spend the maximum time with governors to know their state's political, economic and developmental issues, which he cannot directly discuss with the chief ministers. Modi wants feedback from governors on the "ground situation" in the states.

An interesting sidelight of this three-day event is that most of the governors from the BJP are keen to pay a courtesy call on Kovind's predecessor Pranab Mukherjee. At least 18 governors have sought an appointment with Pranabda, it is learnt.

After five new governors were appointed on Vijayadashami only the Madhya Pradesh Raj Bhavan is now vacant.

The grapevine has it that in all probability it is being kept vacant for Anandiben Patil, who may be sent to Bhopal after the Gujarat elections, say, around January.

Part of BJP chief Amit Shah's strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls is to encourage the launch of regional parties.

In 2018, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections the year after, Amit Shah plans to prop up six regional leaders to launch their parties in states where the Congress is stronger.

The first and foremost is Narayan Rane, the strongman of Konkan who walked out of the Congress and launched his own political outfit, the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksh. Amit Shah calculates that Rane will cut into the Congress's base and take away some 15-20% of its votes.

Rane, who has so far held six rounds of private meetings with Shah, has said that the MSP will certainly be a part of the NDA.

Similarly, if Tamil superstar Rajinikanth launches a party in 2018 it will help the BJP win three to four seats in Tamil Nadu by cutting into others' votes, Shah believes.

The BJP chief has similar plans for Karnataka and Kerala, too.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017 was awarded jointly to Jeffrey C Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W Young "for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm".

Here's what the Nobel Foundation had to say about the prize:

"Life on Earth is adapted to the rotation of our planet. For many years we have known that living organisms, including humans, have an internal, biological clock that helps them anticipate and adapt to the regular rhythm of the day. But how does this clock actually work?

Jeffrey C Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W Young were able to peek inside our biological clock and elucidate its inner workings. Their discoveries explain how plants, animals and humans adapt their biological rhythm so that it is synchronised with the Earths revolutions."

The Nobel committee has not been able to reach Michael Young yet. Michael Rosbach replied: You are kidding me. when he got the call.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's Vijayadashami speech this year has been put out in the form of a booklet titled Sarsanghchalak ka Sandesh and is a hot commodity at 10 Ashoka Road, the BJP national headquarters in New Delhi.

In fact, on Tuesday, the BJP think-tank will deliberate on the 12-page booklet and pick out salient points from it for the party to follow up.

Party president Amit Shah is expected to communicate if they are in conformity with the BJP's 2014 poll manifesto to the Prime Minister's Office, and also follow up with respective Union ministers.

For example, Bhagwat has given few suggestions on agriculture which Shah would like Radha Mohan Singh to take up with the government.

This development marks a new turning point in the BJP-RSS relationship after Shah introduced the party 'think-tank'concept. Such an exercise will not only enthuse the RSS leadership but at the same time, it serves as a dictum for governance, too.

BJP insiders say that Bhagwat was indeed upset when he summarised the six major issues that are facing the nation which he wanted the BJP to address.

The BJP is also planning to circulate the RSS chief's message to the state and district headquarters to be printed in local language and for further policy directions.

Following a mass shooting near Las Vegas Mandalay Bay casino that has reportedly left two dead and at least 24 injured, McCarran International Airport suspended all flights.

The airport tweeted the following: UPDATE: Flights in and out of @LASairport have been temporarily halted in response to reported shooting incident on Las Vegas Strip.

The Ryan International School principal who was suspended after a 7-year-old boy was murdered on school premises, was this week appointed teacher at another branch of the school, much to the consternation of the boy's father.

Neerja Batra, who was suspended from the Bhondsi (Gurugram) branch after Class II student Pradhyumn Thakur was found murdered on campus, joined the school's Sector-40 branch in Gurugram as a teacher. She had been suspended for negligence after a fusillade of intense protests by parents.

Pradhyumn's father Varun Thakur reacted to the development with disbelief, calling the appointment "a risk to the security and safety of students".

"How can you reinstate the principal who failed to fulfil her responsibility? What is the meaning of suspension then," Thakur charged. "How can you expect her (Neerja Batra) to fulfill her responsibilities as a teacher? It's a risk to the security and safety of students."

Seven-year-old Pradhyumn was on September 8 found murdered in the school's bathroom. Ashok Kumar, a school bus conductor, was arrested for allegedly murdering the boy.

The school remained shut for 10 days after the incident, and reopened only on September 18.

14:29 UPDATE: Las Vegas gunman is a local, say cops

The gunman who opened fire at a music festival next to Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas is believed to be a local man, police have said.

They said they were attempting to find his female companion.

At least 20 were killed and more than 100 injured at the country music event.

In another incident of jingoism masquerading as nationalism, a wheelchair-user from Guwahati was allegedly verbally abused by two men at a multiplex because he did not stand up for the national anthem on Friday, 29 September.

Arman Ali, a disability rights activist and executive director of Shishu Sarothi, an NGO working to empower disabled people, alleged that despite sitting upright during the national anthem as a "mark of respect", the two men abused him saying, "Saamne ek Pakistani baitha hai (A Pakistani is sitting ahead)."

Ali is planning to write to the Chief Justice of India.

This is not the first time hysteria over the national anthem has driven self-appointed custodians of patriotism to attack people for failing to honour the national anthem by standing up for it. This has been a contentious issue in India, with growing emphasis on overt displays of patriotism.

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare has announced a day-long hunger strike on Gandhi Jayanti after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi. The crusader of the anti-corruption moment believes that the country is drifting away from what Mahatma Gandhi envisioned.

After arriving in New Delhi, early on Monday, he told reporters, Today is October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. Its been 70 years since our country gained independence, but we have moved away from the vision he had for India. It is for this reason that I am going to launch my satyagraha from Gandhijis samadhi.

Anna Hazare, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, slammed the government for not appointing Lokpal and Lokayukta, and threatened to launch a fresh protest after his day-long strike.

I am not satisfied with PM Modis work and am therefore going on a hunger strike. Based on the inspiration I draw after sitting near Gandhijis statue at Rajghat, I will speak accordingly, Hazare added.

He also accused the government of not being able to check corruption in the country. In his letter to the PM, Hazare wrote, People had voted you to power with a lot of hope. However, a common man still has to pay money to get his work done. Corruption has not gone down and people are experiencing this everyday.

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif today got a brief reprieve after an anti-corruption court postponed till October 9 his indictment in

the Panama Papers scandal.

Sharif, 67, arrived at the Accountability Court amid tight security for the hearing in three graft cases against him and his family.

During the hearing, his lawyer Khawaja Haris argued that all of the accused in the case have to appear in court before an indictment can take place.

Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, a leader of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz told the media after the hearing that last for more than an hour that the indictment has been postponed.

12:58 UPDATE: 1 shooter 'down' in Las Vegas shooting

"Confirming that one suspect is down. This is an active investigation," tweets Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Sidelined AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala, who is serving a four-year sentence in Bengalurus Parappana Agrahara jail, has applied for 15-day parole. Her nephew and ousted Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran confirmed the developments to the media on Monday.

Speaking in Chennai, Dinakaran said, She has applied for parole. The application will be considered tomorrow and we are hoping she gets it.

Sasikala has applied for parole to see her estranged husband M Natarajan, who has been hospitalised in Chennai for liver and kidney failure. This is the first time Sasikala has applied for parole since her imprisonment in February.

Natarajan, who has been admitted at the Gleneagles Global Health City in Chennai, has been undergoing treatment for liver failure for the last nine months. A bulletin issued by the hospital last week had stated that the 74-year-old was awaiting a kidney and a liver transplant. His health condition is reportedly stable.

It is however, the prerogative of Karnataka jail authorities to grant Sasikala parole. She has been embroiled in controversy after an IPS officer Roopa Moudgil accused jail authorities of arranging all kinds of facilities for Sasikala in jail.

Prime Minister addressed the nation from Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi to mark the third anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission.

Here's what the PM said:

>> India faces challenges but that does not mean we run away from them. We will face them and work to overcome them.

>> The dream of a Swachh Bharat will be realised by 125 crore Indians, not a select group of leaders or officials

>> India has accepted the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. The movement has become a people's movement due to the 'Siddhi' of Swachhagrahis

>> A positive spirit of competition has been created due to @swachhbharat Mission. We see this in the cleanliness rankings, how organisations are working on cleanliness

>> When we initiated Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, we faced criticism. But three years later, now we are well aware of its progress

>> The @swachhbharat Mission is about both 'Vyavastha' (systems) and 'Vichar' (thought process and mindset)

>> I congratulate all those who supported and took part in the #SwachhataHiSeva movement. I keep saying- this is the start. We should continue the momentum built by the movement

At least two people are killed and another 24 are injured after an active shooter reportedly opened fire on crowds at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Hotel in Las Vegas, US.

Victims were also reported at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, which was occurring just over the road from Mandalay Bay.

It is currently unclear whether the violence has been caused by multiple shooters, or a single gunman.

Dozens were seen on aerial footage fleeing the building, which was reportedly on lockdown.

Twitter user Stefinatrix wrote: 'I'm on the 6th floor [of the Mandalay Bay]. Shots reported on floor 29 now. Listening to LVPD scanner feed. Security guard shot on 32nd floor.'

She also said that the gunman was firing on police cars from the 32nd floor earlier, according to LVPD scanners.

Police have blocked the Las Vegas Boulevard at Tropicana.

11:39

JUST IN: Las Vegas Police confirms reports of an active shooter near/around Mandalay Bay Casino, @LVMPD tweeted "asking everyone to avoid the area"

11:28 After denying permission, Yogi says Rahul Gandhi can visit Amethi

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi can come to his parliamentary constituency, Amethi, on October 4, the Uttar Pradesh government said on Monday, a day after it asked Rahul to reschedule his visit, citing administration's inability to provide him with adequate security.

In a fresh communique, the district administration has given him a go-ahead, saying it has no problem if the Amethi parliamentarian visits his constituency. Earlier, the UP government had requested him to postpone his visit by a day.

"In order to maintain law and order, a majority of the district police force will be on duty. Hence, there will be great inconvenience in maintaining peace. Therefore, it is requested that the tour be re-scheduled on any date after October 5," a letter written by the Amethi administration to the district Congress chief had said.

Amethi administration's earlier decision had drawn a lot of flak from the Congress party that alleged Yogi government was "using tactics" to stop Rahul from visiting his Lok Sabha constituency.

"The Uttar Pradesh government is worried and does not want Rahul to visit Amethi, fearing that he might raise issues directly related to the public. This scares the BJP," senior Congress leader Akhilesh Singh had said.

11:13 Sharif to be indicted in corruption case today

Former Pakistan prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, will be indicted by n accountability court hearing the National Accountability Bureau's references against him on Monday.

Sharif and his family members are facing three corruption references filed against them by the NAB on the orders of the Supreme Court, which had disqualified the former prime minister in its July 28 Panama Papers verdict, the Express Tribune reported.

According to the reports, the references pertain to London's Avenfield flats, Flagship Investment Limited and 15 other companies as well as al-Azizia Company Limited and Hill Metals Establishment.

Sharif had appeared before the court on September 26, in connection with the three corruption-related references and was allowed to leave after a few minutes.

He was accompanied by several Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including federal ministers. -- ANI

A nine-year-old boy was killed and five other civilians were injured as Pakistani troops targeted border villages and forward posts along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir by firing and shelling, a police official said.

Indian troops fired in retaliation to silence the Pakistani guns and the exchange of fire between the two sides was continuing when last reports came in.

The official said that Pakistani troops targeted dozens of villages and posts in Shahpur, Kirni and Qasba sectors in the early hours, resulting in the death of a boy and injuries to five other civilians.

He identified the deceased boy as Israr Ahmad of Karni sector.

The official said the heavy cross-border firing started around 0650 hours, triggering panic among border residents. He said the injured civilians have been rushed to a hospital.

Meanwhile, security forces foiled an infiltration bid in Keran sector on Monday. One infiltrator was killed in the operation.

Search operation continues.

Veteran left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra has made a comeback in the 15-member Indian team while selectors once again ignored senior spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the three-match T20 series against Australia, starting October 7.

The selectors decided to drop Ajinkya Rahane, who struck four back-to-back half centuries, in the just concluded ODI series as his game is not considered to be suitable for the shortest format.

Shikhar Dhawan made a comeback to the side after missing out on the ODI series due to his wife's health issues.

Test specialists Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami have also been dropped from the T20 squad.

Seasoned Dinesh Karthik pipped young Rishabh Pant, primarily due to his current form as well as wealth of experience.

Pant is expected to play for India A in the five match List A series against the New Zealand A.

Senator Mark Warner believes Russia's use of social media to influence last years election demonstrated how warfare has moved away from the battlefield and toward the internet. Read.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 148th birth anniversary at Rajghat on Monday.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani also paid tributes to the Father of the Nation.

Dr Singh also visited Vijay Ghat and paid tributes to former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Prime Minister Modi tweeted, 'My respects to Gandhi Ji. I bow to beloved Bapu on #GandhiJayanti. His noble ideals motivate millions across the world.'

'My respects to Shastri Ji, who inspired farmers, jawans & gave nation able leadership. Remembering #LalBahadurShastri ji on his Jayanti,' he said in another tweet. -- ANI

IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajghat after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Monday.

Timeline Refresh

TOP STORIES