JD(U) distances itself from ex-MP KC Tyagi's request for Bharat Ratna to Nitish
Patna (PTI): The JD(U) on Saturday distanced itself from its ex-MP KC Tyagi's request for Bharat Ratna to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that it was his personal view and "not in line with the party's ideology".
In a letter to PM Narendra Modi on Thursday, Tyagi had called Kumar a "precious gem" of the socialist movement, and worthy of the highest civilian honour in the country.
Asked about the letter, JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said, "Tyagi has made several statements in the recent past which have not been in line with the party's ideology and not the official stand. All statements made by him shall be deemed to have been made in his personal capacity."
Office bearers in the JD(U) are "not sure whether Tyagi continues to hold any post in the party", he said.
In the letter to the PM, Tyagi had said, "Nitish Kumar, a precious gem of the socialist movement, is worthy of the highest civilian honour. I hope and request that our beloved leader be bestowed with this honour so that history remembers your efforts."
Tyagi has been with the JD(U) since its inception two and a half decades ago.
A protege of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, Tyagi was also known to be close to Sharad Yadav, a former JD(U) president who was disowned by the party in 2017.
Yadav later went on to float another outfit and merged it with RJD shortly before his death, while Tyagi chose to align with Kumar.
While in JD(U), he enjoyed a Rajya Sabha term that ended in 2016 and continued to hold key party posts, including principal national general secretary.
Meanwhile, JD(U) leaders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, pointed out "while a Bharat Ratna for our leader will make party cadres proud, but the fact remains that demands to the effect have, so far, always been made by those who have never been well-wishers of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar".
They cited the examples of NDA detractors like Union ministers Chirag Paswan, who heads Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and BJP's Giriraj Singh, besides RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, a former Bihar Deputy CM who is now the leader of the opposition.
The party leaders wondered if, by pressing the demand for the highest civilian honour, those not known to have good equations with Kumar were indirectly trying to suggest that the longest serving CM of Bihar, who has held the post for nearly 20 years, should now hang up his boots.
JJD founder Tej Pratap Yadav also demanded Bharat Ratna for his father, Lalu Prasad.
"It is the demand of our party that Lalu Prasad should, too, be awarded with Bharat Ratna," he said.
"It is said that my father and Nitish Kumar used to live like brothers. Therefore, Bharat Ratna should be awarded to both of them," he added.
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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.
