Ousting BJP in 2024 would be biggest act of patriotism: Arvind Kejriwal
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said removing the Bharatiya Janata Party from power in 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be the "greatest act of patriotism," as he accused the saffron party of failing to lead the country towards progress despite being in power for two terms.
The AAP National Convener made the remarks addressing party volunteers in New Delhi, his electoral constituency.
"The people of my constituency heap praise on volunteers AAP volunteers don't come from any political background. Our party is not a party with a political background. Even senior AAP leaders don't come from a political background, including me, Manish Sisodia. We are all 'aam aadmi'," Kejriwal said.
He claimed that while politicians from other parties are often seen indulging in hooliganism, those of the AAP are liked by the people because they are polite. "This is the trademark of the AAP."
Kejriwal said the BJP could have led the country on a tremendous path of progress after having come to power a second time with full majority, but that did not happen.
"... today we see that the atmosphere in the country has deteriorated on all sides. ... such intense polarisation was never seen in society. So much fighting, violence, corruption, and looting were never seen before. There is no peace anywhere," he said.
Removing the BJP from power in 2024 will be the biggest act of patriotism, he added.
"The country will progress only then. The decisions they have taken, no one understands why they have taken them," he said.
India's economy has gone at least 10 years backward due to the demonetisation in 2016. People's jobs, businesses, and factories shut down, Kejriwal claimed.
He also criticised the Goods and Services Tax brought by the BJP government, calling it so complex that no one understands it.
"They have put the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI behind many big industrialists. In recent years, 12 lakh wealthy individuals and businesspeople gave up their Indian citizenship and acquired foreign citizenship. This is a very serious matter," he said.
Kejriwal alleged that BJP was a refuge for everyone who is involved in any sort of wrongdoing.
"If anyone involved in theft, goon activities, or harassment joins their party, no investigative agency dares to touch them," he said. "Thieves, goons, and molesters of women, all of them are there in their party."
The Delhi CM said inflation, unemployment, and corruption, are the biggest issues the country is facing today.
"Until now, people used to say there is no alternative. But now, everyone is looking at the INDIA (the opposition alliance) as an alternative.
"Since the INDIA Alliance was formed, I have received many messages from people saying that if the INDIA survives, their government will not be formed in 2024," said Kejriwal.
The AAP's national convener called on his party workers to go door to door and rally support for the alliance, but also asked them to refrain from trying too hard with the diehards.
"My advice is not to argue with blind followers, talk to the patriots. The 2024 Lok Sabha election is very important for the country. If these people come back for another five years, they will completely destroy the country," he asserted.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva parried Kejriwal's charges saying he is afraid of BJP's returning to power "because it will ensure that every bit of his government's corruption gets exposed and brings an end to his misrule of Delhi."
Sachdeva also took exception to Kejriwal's use of the term 'patriotism' in his speech, saying, "People saw what kind of patriotism Kejriwal follows when he questioned the army and air force's valour."
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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.
