Swachh Bharat Abhiyan must be taken as social movement: SC Judge Sanjiv Khanna
New Delhi (PTI): 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', the cleanliness drive launched on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2014, must be taken as a "social movement" for a clean and hygienic India is "healthier and happier," Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Khanna said on Monday.
Justice Khanna was speaking at a function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association to celebrate the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in the apex court's premises.
"We launched the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' on Gandhi's birthday. It is a social movement and it has to be taken as a social movement. Unless it is taken as a social movement it will not be able to achieve its aims and objectives," he said.
"Clean and hygienic India is healthier and happier," Justice Khanna added, drawing a big applause from the audience.
He said some people become immortal by their words and deeds and underlined the various facets of Gandhi's philosophy, including non-violence, satyagraha, fasting for social and communal harmony, ill will towards none, and simplicity in life.
Justice Khanna said Mahatma Gandhi was revered across the world and the true tribute for the father of the nation was to imbibe his words and put his thoughts into action.
"As he once said, carefully watch your thoughts, for they become your words. Manage and watch your words, for they will become your actions. Consider and judge your actions, for they become your habits. Acknowledge and watch your habits, for they shall become your values. Understand and embrace your values, for they become your destiny," he said.
He cited two other quotations of Mahatma Gandhi and said they are especially relevant for the judiciary.
"Facts mean truth, and once we adhere to truth, the law comes to our aid naturally," the judge said, quoting Gandhi.
Referring to the contributions of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the apex court judge said he was "a true Gandhian" who lived by his words and thoughts.
Justice Khanna highlighted the difficult circumstances when Shastri became the second prime minister of the country.
Shastri remained honest and humble while having selfless devotion to the country, he said.
Several bar leaders including SCBA Secretary Rohit Pandey and lawyers were present at the function.
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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.
