Amit Shah's remarks on Karnataka polls insult to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: Congress
New Delhi, Apr 25: The Congress slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday over his reported remarks that the upcoming Karnataka polls are not just to elect MLAs but to entrust the future of the state in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and claimed that the comments were an "insult" to 6.5 crore Kannadigas.
In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Home Minister says elections in Karnataka are to hand over future of state to PM Modi. Last I checked, election on May 10 is to elect MLAs and have a CM FOR the state."
"HM's confession shows their desperation. So much for cooperative federalism. This is an insult to 6.5 cr Kannadigas," the former Union minister said.
Tagging a video on Twitter of Shah's remarks reportedly made during a poll rally in the southern state, the Congress said the home minister must apologise and alleged that he not only insulted Karnataka's identity, but also the democratic values of India.
"It is shocking to know that the Home Minister of India had the audacity to say that this election is not to choose MLAs but to hand over the future of Karnataka to the hands of Modi!" the Congress said in a lengthy Twitter post.
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It also reflects the corrupt and dictatorial mindset of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it alleged.
"This is not the first case. The BJP high command has repeatedly hurt the sentiments of 6.5 crore Kannadigas. Earlier, JP Nadda had also made a similar undemocratic remark saying Kannadigas will be devoid of Modi's blessings if BJP doesn't come to power," the opposition party said.
"Already conceding its defeat, the 40 per cent commission sarkara has resorted to threatening the voters. Come what may, the people of India will never allow anyone to pose a threat to the federal structure of our great nation," the Congress said.
Voting for the Karnataka Assembly polls will take place on May 10 and the counting of votes is scheduled for May 13.
ಅಮಿತ್ ಶಾ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಭವಿಷ್ಯವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಮೋದಿಯ ಕೈಗೆ ಕೊಡಲು ಚುನಾವಣೆ ನಡೆಯಲಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನಾನು ತಿಳಿದ ಹಾಗೆ ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಇರುವುದೇ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಜನರಿಗಾಗಿ, ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿ ಮತ್ತು ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಮಾಡಲು!
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 25, 2023
ಶಾರವರ ಹತಾಶೆ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ಸಹಕಾರ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟತ್ವಕ್ಕೆ ಧಿಕ್ಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು 6.5 ಕೋಟಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಅಪಮಾನ. https://t.co/rXDAwjAYJA
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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.
