PM Modi leads mega roadshow in Guwahati
Guwahati (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a massive roadshow in Guwahati on Saturday evening, witnessing diverse cultural elements of Assam on the first day of his two-day tour to the state.
The roadshow began outside the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in Sarusajai on National Highway 27, and concluded at the state BJP headquarters near Basistha Chariali.
Modi, who was sitting in the front of his black SUV, was seen waving to the enthusiastic crowd that gathered on both sides of the road. The air reverberated with resounding chants of 'Modi-ji zindabad' and 'Bharat Mata ki jai', creating an electrifying atmosphere.
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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Pabitra Margherita, and state BJP president Dilip Saikia joined the roadshow in their respective vehicles.
The roadshow was a showcase of the BJP's strength in Assam, where assembly polls would be due early next year.
The event was marked by a strong presence of BJP workers and volunteers, who had tried hard to ensure a grand reception for the PM.
Several platforms were erected on the roadside to showcase cultural performances from various parts of the state.
"We tried to present a cultural showcase of dance, songs and instruments from our ethnic and indigenous tribes," the party's state media relations convenor Dhruba Jyoti Maral said.
He claimed that more than 50,000 people gathered to witness the roadshow, which was held amid a heavy security deployment.
After landing in Guwahati, the PM unveiled a statue of the state's first CM Gopinath Bordoloi, and a new terminus of the airport, and addressed a public meeting on the occasion.
He then went to Sarusajai for the roadshow. After it concluded, he chaired a crucial meeting with the BJP's state leadership, with an eye on next year's assembly polls.
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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.
