Congress advocating for 'separating' Karnataka from India, claims PM Modi
Bengaluru/Shivamogga/Nanjanagudu, May 7: In a blistering attack on the Congress during his last campaign rally ahead of May 10 Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the party of openly advocating for "separating" Karnataka from India.
The Prime Minister's charge comes a day after former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi addressed a campaign rally at Hubballi on Saturday.
The Congress referring to her speech in a tweet said Gandhi, who is the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, "sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas". It also posted pictures of Gandhi speaking at the public meeting.
"The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity", the tweet read.
Modi, apparently referring to this, alleged that the disease of the 'tukde-tukde gang' (anti-national elements) has reached the Congress' top level.
Winding up campaigning for the high-stakes election, the Prime Minister today held a roadshow in Bengaluru and addressed two public rallies at Shivamogga and Nanjanagudu in Mysuru district.
ALSO READ: No print advertisement without prior clearance during silence period in Karnataka: EC to parties
"When it comes to working against India's interests, Congress' royal family will be at the forefront. I want to speak about a serious issue here. I want to say it as there is a lot of pain in my heart. This country can never forgive such a game. This family, to influence the politics in the country, is encouraging foreign forces to interfere," Modi said.
Addressing the public meeting at Nanjanagudu in Mysuru district, he accused them of secretly meeting foreign diplomats who hate India, repeatedly indulging in activities that insult the nation's sovereignty and said they are not ashamed of it.
Stating that in this Karnataka election, Congress' 'shahi parivar' (royal family) has gone a step ahead by "breaking all the limits and crushing the feelings of the country", Modi said: "Not only Karnataka, I want to tell this to the entire country with lot of pain that in this election Congress' royal family yesterday came to Karnataka and said they want to protect the sovereignty of Karnataka."
"Karnataka's sovereignty, you know what is the meaning of it? They have sat in Parliament for so many years, they have taken oath on India's Constitution, and they say this. When a country becomes independent, only then that country is called a sovereign nation. The meaning of what Congress is saying is that the Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India," he said.
Asking people whether they approve it and whether they will punish Congress for making such a statement, the Prime Minister said it means Congress is openly advocating about "separating" Karnataka from India.
"I had never thought that the disease of the 'tukde-tukde gang' would reach the Congress' top level," he said, accusing the party of insulting Kannada fighters who fought for India's independence and insulting the patriotism of crores of Kannadigas.
Noting that this is the land where 'Rashtra Kavi' Kuvempu had said Karnataka is an integral part of India with lines in the state anthem -- 'Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate Jaya he Karnataka Maate', Modi said: "For every Kannadiga, Karnataka is a mother and she has been described as the daughter of 'Bharat Ma'. I can feel the feelings of Kannadigas."
Insulting the sentiments of Karnataka is like demeaning the "culture and pride" of the state, he added.
Further accusing Congress of creating rift between states and spreading communal fire, the Prime Minister said whenever they did such things, people of India united to defeat them.
Congress wants to "somehow come to power in Karnataka" to get "political oxygen", he said, adding that "people here can never forgive them for this sin... Congress will get the response for this on May 10 with full strength."
He urged the people to vote for BJP to make Karnataka number one among states.
Stating that he was visiting the famous Srikanteshwara temple here, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva connected to the mythological context of 'Vishapaan' (Shiva drinking venom), after the rally, Modi said, "The way Congress abused me in Karnataka and poured venom on me, Lord Srikanteshwara gave me the strength to bear it."
Thanking people for the blessings and affection towards him during campaigning in Karnataka, calling it his biggest asset, he said this is my last programme in this election campaign and after this he will leave for Delhi.
"I'm ending my campaign here. Now, you take the baton," he said urging the people to come out and exercise their franchise on May 10.
After the meeting, Modi visited the Srikanteshwara temple in the district.
Earlier this morning, the Prime Minister took part in an eight kilometre roadshow in Bengaluru, campaigning for the BJP.
The roadshow from Kempegowda statue at New Thippasandra Road to Trinity Circle was covered in about one-and-half hours.
Beginning with Modi paying floral tributes to the statue of Kempegowda (founder of Bengaluru), the open top vehicle passed through parts of east and central Bengaluru touching about half-a-dozen Assembly segments.
Later addressing a public rally in Shivamogga, Modi took a dig at Congress by stating that the "scared" party brought in Sonia Gandhi for campaigning in the election after its "lies did not work".
Without mentioning the name of the former Congress chief, Modi told the audience at the election rally here: "Now, the Congress is so afraid and scared that when their lies did not work, then those who are not taking part in campaigning are being brought here. The Congress has started dumping the responsibility of defeat on each other".
Gandhi, who largely stayed away from campaigning and public rallies since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls reportedly due to health reasons, addressed her first election meeting in Karnataka, which votes on May 10, at Hubballi on Saturday.
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.
