BRS leader K T Rama Rao slams BJP over promise to make BC candidate CM of Telangana
Hyderabad (PTI): The ruling BRS on Saturday attacked the BJP over its announcement of making a backward class (BC) leader as Chief Minister of Telangana after the upcoming assembly polls, saying the Centre has not yet agreed to the demand of setting up an OBC welfare ministry.
BRS Working President K T Rama Rao, who attended a 'Meet the Press' event here, pointed to the BJP replacing its state unit president, who belongs to the backward classes.
He recalled that the BRS has been raising the demand for establishing a ministry for OBCs since the time Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister.
The Telangana legislative assembly had passed a resolution in this regard and the BRS had demanded this in its plenary, he said.
Accusing the Centre of not conducting a census for backward classes, the BRS working president said the Telangana government has the figures (on BC population) in view of the 'samagra kutumba survey' (integrated household survey) conducted by it in 2014.
"Narendra Modi ji belongs to OBC. Has the condition of BCs in this country changed in the last nine and half years. It is not right, in a democracy, to feel that the whole community would benefit if one person becomes the Chief Minister or Prime Minister," he opined.
Noting that a person's nature is more important than his caste, Rao said the decisions of a leader should benefit the concerned community.
"Rashtrapati ji is a 'Girijan' (ST), woman. Has it benefitted all the STs and women of the country?" he asked.
Rama Rao underscored the importance of decisions and schemes introduced by a Chief Minister.
On the row over 'sinking of piers' of Medigadda (Lakshmi) barrage of Kaleswaram project, the Minister said the project has been operational since the last five years and that the barrage withstood the highest flood last year successfully.
He added that he has not had an opportunity to speak to concerned officials on the matter.
Referring to national dam safety authority's visit, he said he was awaiting the report.
Rama Rao further said there will be no burden on the state exchequer due to any damage to the barrage and that the concerned agency would bear the cost and revive it.
Reacting to opposition calling the Kaleswaram irrigation project in the state as 'white elephant,' the BRS leader said Congress was the real white elephant of the country.
"People have borne the brunt of Congress's misrule and misadventures for the longest time," he said.
Taking a swipe at Congress, Rama Rao said Mahatma Gandhi had favoured disbanding the grand old party post Independence. "Unfortunately, its still there, therefore, lot of nuisance."
Addressing a poll rally at Suryapet in Telangana on Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised to make a Backward Class (BC) leader the Chief Minister of Telangana if the BJP was voted to power after the November 30 assembly polls in the state.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
