India and England players observe silence in memory of plane crash victims
Leeds (PTI): India and England players along with on-field umpires observed a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad ahead of the first Test here on Friday.
In the gruesome accident of the Air India flight to London, 241 passengers and crew on board were killed on June 14.
"What happened in the aircraft (crash), I think the whole India was disheartened but at the same time the only thing from our side... we are going to be sticking with them, how we can make India happy again," vice-captain Rishabh Pant had told media here on Wednesday.
On the cricketing front, top-order batter B Sai Sudharsan became the latest Test entrant for India, and he will bat at No. 3.
India under new captain Shubman Gill are searching for their first Test series win on England shores since 2007.
The Indian Cricket Team and the England Cricket Team observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash ahead of the start of play on Day 1 of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds.
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 20, 2025
The teams are wearing the black armbands to express solidarity with… pic.twitter.com/Guxf1aO8iJ
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Alliance partners welcome DMDK into DMK fold, BJP slams Premalatha Vijayakanth's move
Chennai (PTI): Parties in the DMK-led SPA on Thursday welcomed DMDK joining the alliance, while the BJP slammed the move, stating that the "soul of Vijayakanth will not forgive" the party for forging ties with the DMK.
Earlier in the day, the late actor Vijayakanth, founded DMDK, joined the Secular Progressive Alliance here for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly polls.
Tamil Nadu Congress said DMDK forming an alliance with the DMK is a "significant development" in the state politics.
TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said, "In view of the forthcoming assembly election, DMDK joining the DMK is a significant development in Tamil Nadu politics."
"I welcome the decision taken by (DMDK General Secretary) Premalatha Vijayakanth and DMDK executives for taking a great decision. I congratulate. This alliance was formed with the aim of prioritizing social justice, secularism, democratic values that will have the power to fulfill the people's expectations," he wrote in a social media post.
"Formed for the welfare, progress and prosperous future of the state, this alliance will surely achieve victory," he said.
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko, another ally of the SPA, hailed the development as 'sweet news'.
"We happily welcome them. The SPA gets strengthened by this alliance. Victory for the DMK-led alliance has been confirmed with this", he told reporters in Madurai.
However, the Tamil Nadu BJP unit reacted sharply and criticised the move as a 'betrayal' of the DMDK founder's legacy.
The movement created by the Captain joining the anti-people DMK, will "never be forgiven by the Captain's Soul", it said on its social media handle. The DMDK founder is fondly addressed as 'Captain.'
BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan said, "As far as I am concerned, they (DMDK) have boarded a sinking ship. Invoking the legacy of Captain, they have forced their cadres to act as captains of a vessel that is already going down."
Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) chief G K Vasan, who is part of NDA in Tamil Nadu, said the alliance between the DMDK and the DMK was against the expectations of the people.
"As long as Captain was alive, he never formed an alliance with the DMK. People will not accept this alliance," he told reporters in Tiruchirappalli.
Actor-Politician Vijay led-Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) said not even one per cent of the people will accept this DMDK-DMK alliance.
"Captain Vijayakanth faced a lot of insults from the DMK and toiled hard to develop his party. When all these alliance partners converge on a stage, not even 1 per cent of the people will believe in them. They will not accept this alliance at any cost," TVK joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar told reporters in Chennai.
Meanwhile, Premalatha, after announcing her alliance with the DMK, offered prayers at the memorial of Captain in Chennai and later took part in Annadanam (free meal) organised at the DMDK headquarters.
"After the announcement of our alliance, on this special day, I performed a special pooja at the Captain's Temple and offered Annadanam. It is not just a political decision but my commitment to safeguard the people's belief," she said.
"With the blessings of Captain and people's support, we will definitely win", she wrote and shared some images on her social media handle.
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