Popular Front of India approaches Supreme Court over union govt’s ban
New Delhi: The Popular Front of India (PFI) has approached the Supreme Court challenging a notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs designating it and its affiliated organizations as 'unlawful associations' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).
A bench comprising Justice Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi was scheduled to hear a special leave petition filed by the Popular Front of India against a UAPA tribunal's decision upholding the central government's ban earlier this year. However, the hearing has been deferred following a letter seeking adjournment.
In September of the previous year, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification declaring the Popular Front of India, along with its various associates, affiliates, or fronts, as 'unlawful associations' under the UAPA. The decision was made due to alleged connections with terrorist organizations and involvement in acts of terror. This move followed extensive nationwide search, detainment, and arrest operations against the PFI and its members. The ban, effective immediately, was set to last for five years under Section 3(1) of the UAPA. Affiliates listed in the notification included the Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.
In March this year, a UAPA tribunal led by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma of the Delhi High Court upheld the central government's ban on the Popular Front of India and its associated entities. The tribunal, comprising a single high court judge, was mandated to assess the validity of the government's declaration according to anti-terror legislation. Justice Sharma was appointed as the presiding officer of the tribunal by the Centre in October 2022.
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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.
