Are you working for people of Karnataka or Gandhi family?” BJP's Vijayendra asks CM Siddarmaiah
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Expressing reservation over the state government’s plans to purchase land for constructing houses in Kerala’s Wayanad for those affected by the devastating landslides there, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra sought to know whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was working for the people of Karnataka or the Gandhi family.
Highlighting certain infrastructural issues faced by Karnataka, he said the state deserves leadership that prioritises its people and development, not one who sidelines the state’s needs for political appeasement.
The Wayanad Lok Sabha seat is currently represented by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi. Her brother and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was earlier MP from the constituency.
Siddaramaiah has written to his Kerala counterpart, Pinarayi Vijayan stating that his government is prepared to purchase land for constructing houses in Wayanad for families affected by the devastating landslides.
“Karnataka’s roads have more potholes than tar, investments are slipping to Telangana, North Karnataka remains neglected, and unemployment is rising. Yet, CM Siddaramaiah, who earlier promised to build houses in Kerala, now wants to double down by buying land to facilitate this?” questioned Vijayendra in a post on ‘X’.
“Sir (addressing Siddaramaiah), are you working for the people of Karnataka or for the Gandhi family? Does this reflect the priorities of a leader committed to Karnataka? Our State deserves leadership that prioritizes its people and development, not one who sidelines the State’s needs for political appeasement,” he said.
In a letter to Vijayan dated December 9, Siddaramaiah reiterated his government’s commitment to donate 100 houses to support the affected families, which was announced during his visit to Wayanad following the “unfortunate” landslide incident.
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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.
