'Try to stand on your own legs, don't use Sharad Pawar's photo': SC asks Ajit-led NCP faction
New Delhi: In a hearing on Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to refrain from using images and videos of Sharad Pawar in its campaign materials for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Court emphasised that Ajit Pawar’s group should campaign based on its separate identity, advising him to issue instructions to his party members accordingly.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was addressing an application filed by Sharad Pawar, requesting the Court to prevent Ajit Pawar’s faction from using the NCP’s clock symbol in the election. Previously, the Court had instructed Ajit Pawar to publish disclaimers regarding the use of the symbol.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Sharad Pawar, presented materials, including photos and social media posts, allegedly violating the Court’s previous order. Singhvi pointed to Amol Mitkari, a candidate from Ajit Pawar’s NCP, who had shared images featuring only Sharad Pawar, claiming Ajit Pawar’s side was attempting to “piggyback” on the senior Pawar’s reputation.
In response, Senior Advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Ajit Pawar, refuted these claims, calling the materials "doctored." However, Singhvi countered that the video had been posted from Mitkari’s official account.
Justice Surya Kant remarked, "Whether or not it is an old video, with Mr Pawar you have an ideological difference, and you are fighting against him. Then you should try to stand up on your own legs."
Balbir Singh assured the Court of compliance but raised concerns over AI manipulation, stating, “In the age of Artificial Intelligence, photos and videos can be manipulated using ‘deep fake’.” Justice Kant acknowledged this concern, noting, “There have been instances which are eye openers. Ultimately this AI also where it will go, we have to be very very careful.”
The Court instructed Ajit Pawar’s faction to issue an electronic circular to its office bearers and candidates, advising against the use of Sharad Pawar’s images or videos in campaign materials, stressing the need for the faction to maintain a distinct identity.
In the background of the case, a rift between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar led the Election Commission of India in 2022 to recognise Ajit Pawar's faction as the official NCP and grant it the clock symbol. This decision is under challenge in the Supreme Court by Sharad Pawar’s faction, which has been permitted to use the symbol of a "man blowing turha (trumpet)."
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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.
