KPCC seeks explanation from Shashi Tharoor for "Modi praise"
Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress in Kerala has sought an explanation from senior party leader Shashi Tharoor, days after his remarks that Prime Minister, Narenedra Modi, should be praised for doing the "right things" kicked up a storm in the state.
In a release, the Kerala PradeshCongress Committee (KPCC) said the party had decided to seek the explanation from the Thiruvananthapuram MP to find out why he had decided to make his remarks on Modi public instead of raising it in the party forum.
KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran had earlier said that several party leaders and workers had approached the leadership with complaints against Tharoor's "Modi praise."
"The stand of the Congress party with regard to Narendra Modi was explained by party president during the 75th birth anniversary celebrations of Rajiv Gandhi," the release said.
"Modi government is a failure in all fields. Even the NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman had said that the country is going through the worst economic crisis since independence. National Sample Survey Organisation has said the worst unemployment crisis in last 45 years has gripped the country.While the country has been going through such a crisis, justifying the Prime Minister who caused it was unfortunate," release said.
Ramachandran said Tharoor's stand had pained lakhs of Congress workers and it was not going to help the party. "This is detrimental to the dignity and discipline of the party," the KPCC chief said and demanded immediate explanation in this regard. As his remarks created a furore, Tharoor, who is abroad, said in a tweet on Tuesday he has been a "strong critic" of the Modi government and wanted fellow Congressmen to respect his approach even when they do not agree with it.
"I've been a strong critic of the Modi government, & I hope a constructive one. My staunch defence of inclusive values & constitutional principles has won me 3 elections. I urge my fellow Congressmen to respect my approach even when they don't agree with it," the Thiruvananthapuram MP tweeted.
The former union minister had been criticised by Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala and three party MPs-- K Muraleedharan, Benny Behannan and T N Pratapan for his "Modi praise".
Tharoor and his colleague Abhishek Singhvi had last week supported party leader Jairam Ramesh who has said not recognising Modi's work and "demonising" him all the time was not going to help.
Tharoor had on Sunday defended the remarks made by him, Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh.
"What Jairam Ramesh and Singhvi have said is not wrong. If Modi has done something good, we should acknowledge it. Otherwise we will lose credibility among the people. If there is need, we should severely criticise him," he had told a Malayalam TV channel.
Former union minister Jairam Ramesh had recently said Modi's model was not a "complete negative story" and not recognising his work and demonising him all the time is not going to help.
"It is time we recognise Modi's work and what he did between 2014 and 2019 due to which he was voted back to power by over "30 per cent of the electorate," he had said on Wednesday.
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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.
