India's voice getting stronger in a world surrounded by challenges: PM Modi in Uttarakhand
Pithoragarh (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India's voice is getting stronger in a world surrounded by challenges and asserted that the country's power was acknowledged internationally during the G20 Summit.
Addressing a public rally here, the prime minister said his government has taken decisions on issues pending for 30 to 40 years, like the women's reservation bill.
He referred to India's successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, saying it reached that part of the moon where no other country could. The strength of India is being acknowledged globally and it was evident during the G20 summit held in Delhi, Modi said.
"There was a time when a mood of despair gripped the nation. Everyone prayed and wondered when the country would be pulled out of the dark shadows of scams of thousands of crores of rupees.
"But now, when the world is surrounded by challenges India's voice is getting stronger. Don't you feel good when India shows the world the way?" the prime minister said.
He said the change has not been brought about by Modi but by the people of India who gave him a chance for a second time to serve them. "The entire credit for it goes to the 140 crore people of the country," Modi said.
The prime minister said that when he shakes hands with dignitaries from around the world he also looks into their eyes. "When they look at me they do not see me but the 140 crore people of the country in me," he said.
The prime minister said that 13.50 crore people have risen above the poverty line in the last five years alone. It shows that India can overcome poverty, he said.
Addressing the people of Uttarakhand as "dear family members", Modi said he has personal bond and memory attached to every inch of the land and expressed his gratitude to the people for giving him such a warm welcome.
"The people of Uttarakhand take me as a family member. They share their joys with me like the birth of a child or a daughter doing well in her studies through letters. I am really blessed to enjoy such an intimacy with them," PM Modi said.
Describing Uttarakhand as the land of spirituality and valour, the prime minister posed faith in the unique ability of its people and said the decade belongs to them. "I had said it first from the land of Baba Kedar (Kedarnath). Today I am returning from the feet of Adi Kailash and I reiterate my faith in the unique ability of its people," he said.
Accusing the previous governments of ignoring the development of border areas, the prime minister said, "Development of border villages, which we consider as our first villages, is our priority."
Lack of development had led to migration from Uttarakhand's villages with many of them completely deserted. With the change in circumstances, people are gradually returning to their homes, Modi said.
Earlier in the day, the prime minister inaugurated and laid the foundation of multiple development projects in Uttarakhand worth nearly Rs 4,200 crore. He said the projects will steer the Kumaon region on the path of development.
Uttarakhand is going to benefit immensely from the paradigm shift in the attitude towards the development of border areas.
The number of pilgrims arriving for Char Dham yatra this year is nearing 50 lakh, breaking all records, Modi said.
"Major reconstruction projects have been undertaken in Badrinath and Kedarnath. The ropeway link between Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib is going to benefit the physically challenged people. I want Manaskhand also to prosper and grow like Kedarkhand."
He asked people to prepare themselves to receive many pilgrims and tourists in the near future.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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
===================
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.
