Facilitating Maoists surrender is 'package' to convert forest Naxals into urban Naxals: Sunil Kumar
Bengaluru, Jan 8: Karnataka BJP General Secretary Sunil Kumar on Wednesday termed Karnataka state government facilitating the surrender of a group of six Maoists, as a "package" to convert forest Naxals into urban Naxals.
A group of six Maoists will surrender before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here this evening, expressing their intention to return to the mainstream, giving up the armed struggle, official sources said.
Those who are expected to surrender are: Mundagaru Latha, Sundari Kuthlur, Vanajakshi Balehole, and Mareppa Aroli of Karnataka, K Vasanth of Tamil Nadu, and Jeesha of Kerala, sources said.
"Government's move of providing a package for Naxals to surrender is a worrying development. These Naxals sounded the noise of bullets in the Malnad (western ghats) region that was peaceful, in the name of struggle. The civilised society has to question this move of Siddaramaiah government. The government that has withdrawn cases against PFI is now providing an opportunity for Naxals to surrender, this is dangerous," Kumar told reporters.
Pointing out that Naxals are surrendenting a week after CM Siddaramaiah appealed to them, he asked, "Is Siddaramaiah close to Naxals, or those close to Naxals are close to Siddaramaiah?"
"This is a package to convert forest Naxals into urban Naxals. This cannot be called a surrender package. Naxals were feeling abandoned, with people or society living in and around the forests not supporting their thinking, and they had no other choice. Siddaramaiah government has now given them a ray of hope," he added.
According to officials, the surrender is arranged following the efforts of the state government's committee to oversee the implementation of the rehabilitation policy to assimilate/surrender left-wing extremists.
The CM had recently appealed to the Naxalites (Maoists) involved in violent activities to surrender and join the democratic mainstream. He had then said that the government had already formulated a surrender policy for Naxals, adding that this policy will be simplified and effectively implemented.
The surrender came following Maoist leader Vikram Gowda's killing in an encounter with the Anti-Naxal Force at Peetabailu village in Hebri in Udupi district on November 18, 2024.
Kumar said, at the time when the central government is working towards making India free from Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 2026 and when the Naxals are losing ground, the state's Congress government is providing a package for their surrender, which creates suspicion.
This move will cause a setback and demoralise the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) that is fighting Naxals for several years now combing the forests day and night, he said, highlighting that Naxlas who have indulged in violence, have all of a sudden come forward to surrender after Maosit leader Vikram Gowda's encounter.
"We are opposed to providing them money for surrender...win the hearts of the people through development, rather than providing packages for surrender of Naxals. Government should re-examine this. If they (Naxals) want to surrender, let them surrender before courts and whatever the court decides, we too will accept it," he said.
Responding to a question on Naxals' demand and government's promise, Home Minister G Parameshwara earlier today said, "I can only say they are surrendering; I cannot share other details, such as their demands and what we have promised. I will share them later."
ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕವಿ ಕುವೆಂಪು ಅವರ ಕರ್ಮಭೂಮಿ ಆಗಿದ್ದ ತಣ್ಣಗಿನ ಮಲೆನಾಡಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದೂಕಿನ ಮೊರೆತ ಕೇಳಿಸಿದ ನಕ್ಸಲರಿಗೆ ಕ್ಷಮೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಅವರನ್ನು ನಗರ ನಕ್ಸಲರಾಗಿಸಿ ಬುಡಮೇಲು ಕೃತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಲೈಸೆನ್ಸ್ ಕೊಡುತ್ತೀರಾ @siddaramaiah ನವರೇ?ಇದರಿಂದ ಪೊಲೀಸರ ಆತ್ಮ ಸ್ಥೈರ್ಯ ಏನಾಗಬೇಡ?ಈ ಶರಣಾಗತಿ ಪ್ರಹಸನವೇ ಅನುಮಾನಾಸ್ಪದವಾಗಿದೆ 2/2@DrParameshwara
— Sunil Kumar Karkala (@karkalasunil) January 8, 2025
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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.
