J-K students in Delhi fear for families' safety in Valley, term abolition of Art 370 'dictatorial'
New Delhi: Kashmiri students in the national capital on Monday termed the Centre's move of revoking Article 370 as "dictatorial" and expressed concern about the safety of their family members back home.
Former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) member Shehla Rashid, who has been vocal against the scrapping of Article 370, said they will approach the Supreme Court in the matter.
Rashid is a member of former IAS officer Shah Faesal's political outfit Jammu and Kashmir Peoples' Movement (JKPM).
"We will challenge the order passed today in the Supreme Court. The move to replace "Government" by "Governor" and Constituent Assembly by "Legislative Assembly" is a fraud upon the Constitution. Appeal to progressive forces for solidarity. Protests today in Delhi and Bangalore," she tweeted.
Rashid also claimed that the data speed of mobile phone numbers of Kashmiris has been restricted.
"I've been able to post on Twitter only over Wi-Fi. All Kashmiri numbers operating outside the state have their data access restricted," she tweeted.
JNUSU general secretary Aejaz Ahmed Rather said, "It is unconstitutional and dictatorship is being perpetrated from the floor of Parliament. Nothing is left for us. I had spoken to my family on Sunday night and they said, 'Please come and see us once. We do not know how much more time we have'. With everything being shut there, we are not even able to contact our families."
Mudassar, a former student of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) who belongs to Anantnag, said, "There is uncertainty among us. We do not know how are families coping with this since all forms of communication have been shut down. Last night, I spoke to my family and they wanted me to come back and meet them. I had booked my tickets for Monday but with this situation I had to cancel my tickets. I fear for safety of my loved ones back home."
Anis Ahmed, a Kashmiri student at the Delhi University said, "Every month there is a panic situation in Kashmir. Both me and my family are used to be on pins for each other's safety. I have had no contact with my family since Saturday, not sure if they are okay. On Saturday, they asked me not to come home for now".
A Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) student, requesting anonymity, said their families have instructed them to not venture out of their campuses and not to talk to strangers.
"They have been instructed not to interact with strangers or mediapersons. They are fearful and are not even venturing out of the campus. They are saying, 'When our leaders are not safe in Kashmir, how can our families be safe there?"
Another JMI student questioned the move and asked why was there a panic situation created?
"If the development is in our favour, as the government claims, why such a panic situation was created? Why house arrests? Why the curfews? If we are being united, isn't that a good thing? Why this terror like atmosphere? Why the internet services suspended?," said another JMI student requesting anonymity.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved a resolution in Rajya Sabha to abolish Article 370 after the president issued a notification and also moved a bill to divide the state into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The Centre on Monday also directed states to take special care of Jammu and Kashmir residents, especially students hailing from the state, against any mischief or breach of peace.
On Sunday, the Jammu and Kashmir Students' Organisation had issued an advisory to Kashmiri students outside the Valley urging them to refrain from "making any controversial posts on social media handles" and "to avoid conflict related debates with your colleagues". They also advised the students to not go by rumours on social media.
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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.
