CT Ravi ill-treatment claim an attempt by BJP to deviate public attention, says DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru(PTI): By claiming ill-treatment of party leader and MLC CT Ravi by police post his arrest, the BJP was attempting to deviate public attention from the original issue of him allegedly using derogatory language against a woman minister, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar alleged on Saturday.
Highlighting that conscience was important, he hit out at the BJP leadership in the state for supporting Ravi, who was arrested for making a derogatory comment against state minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.
"...ask them (BJP) if what he (Ravi) said was right or not. Let's discuss other things later. This shows the culture of their party and leader...what happened in the court is left to him (Ravi) and the police and the crime he committed. The main issue is his language and his culture," Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question on the High Court ordering Ravi's release on Friday.
Alleging that Ravi has used derogatory language against several people in the past, the deputy CM said he is the leader from a national party, and "is it right for him to speak about women in such a manner."
Ravi allegedly used a derogatory word against Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on Thursday during an altercation between them, when the House was adjourned for a while.
He was arrested on Thursday evening and taken into a police van from the premises of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, where the legislature session was held.
Stating that conscience is important, Shivakumar said, "BJP supporting him (Ravi) just because he is their party leader is not right...one should be condemned if he is wrong and should be told that he is wrong. If anyone had used such words in my party, I would have condemned it...Ashoka (Leader of Opposition) is supporting him (Ravi). He is a party to it in this crime."
"This is their party (BJP) leadership. Let them say that this is how their party is. We will be happy. Let them keep their gems to themselves happily. Let them not send them out," he further said.
Ravi on Friday accused the police of "violating" human rights, as he alleged that they took him on rounds the entire night to various places without providing proper food and rest.
Responding to a question about police action against Ravi and allegations that he pressured the police, Shivakumar said, "...it is a police matter. I don't know...for everything that happens they hold me responsible...they don't get sleep without remembering me."
Stating that conscience will give justice in this matter, he said, "They (BJP) are trying to deviate from the main issue. To cover up his (Ravi) usage of a derogatory word, he is now blaming the police..."
The High Court on Friday ordered immediate release of Ravi in its interim order, observing that police failed to follow the procedures in arresting him. However, the bench of Justice M G Uma asked Ravi to co-operate with the investigation and be available for questioning.
Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday, responding to a question by reporters on HC observing that police failed to follow the procedures in arresting Ravi, said he wouldn't want to make any statement, as the matter is before the court. "As the matter is sub judice. It wouldn't be appropriate to speak."
Asked whether the arrest was done legally according to the government, he said, "The police argument will be that their action was right, but the matter is before the court and it will decide what is right and what is wrong."
To a question as to why police took Ravi on rounds to four districts through the night on Thursday after his arrest, the Home MInister said, "I have sought for information. Once I get it I will share."
Noting that police had arrested 24 people in connection with an attempt to attack Ravi at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, Parameshwara in response to another question said, "they were arrested to ensure that no untoward incident should happen and they were later released."
Asked whether someone else operating the Home Department superseding him, considering the way in which Ravi's arrest was done and the things that followed, Parameshwara said, "It cannot be done. Can it be done? Other than CM, no one else can do it. The CM is above the Home Minister and other ministers...I have a lot of freedom (in running the department)."
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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.
