Delegation of Kannadiga NRI leaders led by Dr. Ronald Colaco meets CM, DCM
Seeks immediate action on pending NRI Ministry, grievance cell, ₹1,000 Crore Fund
Bengaluru: A large delegation of Kannadiga NRIs representing organisations across several countries met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru to press for long-pending commitments made to the global diaspora. The delegation was led by Dr Ronald Colaco, who has been entrusted by various NRI organisations to place before the government their concerns and expectations. Zakaria Jokatte from Saudi Arabia was among the members representing the Middle East diaspora during the meeting.
The appeal was formally presented through a detailed memorandum and pointwise presentation submitted to both leaders. The delegation reminded the government of two major promises included in the 2023 Assembly Election Manifesto: the creation of a separate Ministry and Department for NRI Kannadigas, and the setting up of a ₹1,000 crore revolving fund to support investments and relocation plans of Kannadiga NRIs.
The memorandum noted that more than half the government’s term has passed without progress on either commitment, leading to disappointment among Kannadigas living abroad. It stated that many NRIs feel their concerns remain unaddressed, their contributions undervalued, and their issues unprotected due to the absence of an institutional mechanism. The presentation explained that Karnataka, despite having one of the largest skilled diasporas, still lacks a structured NRI department even though several states — including Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Goa — already have dedicated units and diaspora policies.
The delegation said that fulfilling the manifesto would help rebuild confidence, restore goodwill, and strengthen Karnataka’s global engagement.
The first appeal placed before the CM and DCM was the immediate creation of an “NRI Kannadiga Affairs Ministry and Department.” According to the representation, this department would act as a single-window authority to handle all NRI-related matters. This includes investment facilitation, grievance redressal, property and legal disputes, and support for cultural and educational exchanges. It would also strengthen Karnataka’s international connections for trade, tourism, technology transfer, and global partnerships.
The supporting pointwise presentation submitted by the delegates said that without a nodal department, NRI complaints continue to remain scattered between various departments such as Home, Revenue, Police, Urban and Rural Development, Industries, Labour, and sub-registrar offices. As a result, many cases remain unresolved for years.
The delegation urged the government to act quickly on the second manifesto promise by putting in place the ₹1,000 crore revolving fund meant to support NRKs who want to invest in industries, services, start-ups, or skill-based projects in Karnataka. The memorandum said the fund would help generate employment, bring new investments, and support the return of skilled Kannadigas who wish to settle back home. It stressed that the fund should be seen not as an expenditure but as an investment that would yield large economic benefits and strengthen the State’s economy.
The delegation also placed several supplementary recommendations, including:
* Formation of an NRI Grievance Redressal Cell to address property fraud, land disputes, delayed legal processes, and other issues commonly faced by NRIs.
* An annual Global Kannadiga Conclave hosted by the government to bring together investors, professionals, and community leaders.
* Simplified procedures to help NRIs take part in state development projects, CSR activities, cultural preservation efforts, and tourism promotion.
* Introduction of an NRI Identity Card to help NRKs access government services during visits to Karnataka.
* Formal partnerships with NRI associations abroad for cultural, educational, and trade-related initiatives.
The memorandum described the global diaspora as Karnataka’s “ambassadors” who contribute to the State’s identity, remittances, investments, technology links, cultural promotion, and economic growth. The pointwise presentation added that NRKs face unique challenges—such as property fraud, forgery, land grabbing, and delayed legal remedies—because they live abroad and cannot pursue matters for years. It stated that a dedicated mechanism is not a luxury but a necessity.
The delegation included Kannadiga representatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Germany, Kuwait, and the USA. The list features members such as Zakaria Jokatte from Saudi Arabia, Dr Ravi Shetty from Qatar, Praveen Kumar Shetty from the UAE, Ajith Bangera from Bahrain, Harsha Jagadeesh from Sweden, and many others from across 38 entries recorded in the official list submitted to the government.
Dr Ronald Colaco, presenting the appeal on behalf of global NRK organisations, told the CM and DCM that Kannadiga NRIs remain a vital part of Karnataka’s cultural and economic base. He said their contributions in remittances, philanthropy, skill-building, and global reputation continue to support the State silently and significantly. The delegation urged the government to take up the implementation of the promised NRI Ministry and the revolving fund at the earliest to rebuild confidence and goodwill among Kannadigas worldwide.
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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.
