Academician Gururaj Karajagi, Ravishankar not to address new MLAs of Karnataka during workshop
Bengaluru: The names of academician Dr. Gururaj Karajagi and head of the Art of Living Foundation Ravishankar have been dropped from the list of invitees to address first-time legislators of Karnataka during the three-day workshop to be held, starting Monday.
Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader had said recently that several well-known people are invited to address and motivate the new MLAs. He had also said that former CMs BS Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy from the political field as well as achievers from various fields, including Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr Veerendra Heggade, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Joint Secretary (Karnataka) Mohammed Kunhi, academician Karajagi and Ravishankar were among the dignitaries who would speak at the workshop.
Several writers, social activists and Congress leaders too from across Karnataka had objected to the addition of the names of ‘controversial people’, especially Ravishankar and Karajagi, to the list of invitees. They had also demanded that their names be withdrawn from the list of invitees. Many had said, “Classes on the provisions of the Constitution of India should be held for the MLAs, instead of getting controversial people to speak to them.”
While Khader had said that people should have waited till the completion of the event to give their critical reviews, instead of making judgemental statements prior to the workshop, the official document on the workshop confirms that the names of Karajagi and Ravishankar have been dropped from the list of speakers.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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
===================
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.
