Karnataka Cong forms committee to study process, modalities for student union election
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka state chief of the ruling Congress, D K Shivakumar, has constituted a committee of party leaders to study the process and modalities for conducting student union elections in the state, and to submit a report.
Shivakumar, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, during a recent Constitution Day event, had spoken about the plans to reintroduce student union elections in Karnataka, which he said would create political leadership on campuses.
Medical Education Minister Sharan Praksah Patil has been appointed as the convenor of the nine-member committee, which includes Higher Education Minister Sudhakar, MLAs, MLCs, and state presidents of Youth Congress and National Students' Union of India (NSUI).
The committee has been asked to submit its report and recommendations within 15 days, Shivakumar said in a letter dated December 27.
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"Conducting elections to student unions promotes democratic representation among students. Based on the views expressed by party leaders and workers that it helps in maintaining academic discipline and develops leadership qualities among students, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has considered conducting elections to student unions," he said.
The committee is being formed, aimed at obtaining detailed information about the current conditions and the feasibility for conducting such elections, the KPCC chief said, adding that the committee will have to submit a comprehensive report with recommendations.
Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989 by the then Congress government led by Chief Minister Veerendra Patil, reportedly in response to a series of violent incidents and clashes on college campuses, as well as the increasing influence of political parties in campus life.
Terms of Reference (TOR) for the committee include studying and recommending on the stages at which elections can be held; pros, cons and consequences of holding elections; to provide a detailed report on whether elections should be held under the name of a party or based solely on ideologies or in a non-political manner, with the aim of student welfare.
The committee will also study aspects like election and candidacy qualifications; information about the process and system for conducting elections; election costs and transparency; complaint resolution and security system; representation and inclusive education (participation); reservation of seats or quota for women, marginalised communities and students with disabilities, and regarding determining the duration of the student union without disrupting the education and academic schedule of the students.
Shivakumar had on several occasions recalled his days as a student leader and how they nurtured his political growth.
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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.
