India lifts ban on scandal-hit Modi aide

Authorities have lifted a campaigning ban imposed on a key aide to India's likely next prime minister Narendra Modi after he allegedly told Hindu community leaders to seek "revenge" in the country's elections. Amit Shah, who has been running the campaign for Modi's opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the pivotal Uttar Pradesh state, has been in the eye of a public storm after allegedly making the comments in an area where Hindu-Muslim clashes left some 50 people dead in September. India's powerful Election Commission on Friday barred Shah from holding public rallies, meetings and roadshows, but decided late Thursday to lift the ban after he promised not to "use abusive or derogatory language in the campaign," according to AFP.