Left-backed student groups in JNU, Jamia support Palestine, demand 'freedom' from Israel
New Delhi (PTI): A section of students from Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday made some posts on X calling Israel an "oppressor" state and demanding "freedom" for Palestine.
"An occupier and oppressor State (Israel) has no right to lecture about the 'Right to Defend'. Today remembering Comrade Che Guevara on his death anniversary and what he had said years ago. 'Homeland or Death'. With Palestine," JNU Students' Union President Aishe Ghosh wrote on X.
Left-backed All India Students' Association expressed solidarity with Palestine and called for restoration of peace in the region.
In a post later deleted, Jamia's National Students' Union of India unit too threw its lot behind Palestine and called the presence of Israel in the region "terrorism."
"Israel's seven-decade-long occupation in Palestine is terrorism. Palestine deserves freedom from Israeli's Zionist terrorism, and collective efforts must be made to ensure a just and peaceful resolution to this long-standing conflict," read the deleted post by the Congress' student wing.
In its latest tweet, the NSUI said that a peaceful resolution is the only path to justice and urged the world organisations to prioritise diplomatic solutions.
Another student group, Dayar-I-Shauq Students' Charter, championed the Palestinians cause.
"We stand in Solidarity with Palestinian people and the Palestinian freedom fighters in their struggle against the settler colonial state of Israel," DISSC posted on X.
Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. More than 700 people, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel in the deadliest war for the country in at least 50 years.
Israel has imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.
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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.
