Karnataka: Political slugfest over violent quota protest; BJP, Cong blame each other
Bengaluru/Kalaburagi (PTI): A political slugfest erupted between the ruling BJP and the Congress in Karnataka on Tuesday over a protest by Banjaras that turned violent at Shikaripura in Shivamogga district, with both parties holding each other responsible for it.
Four police personnel were injured in Shikaripur on Monday, when thousands of people of the Banjara community were protesting against the state government's decision on internal reservation among Scheduled Castes, turned violent.
Some window panes of former Chief Minister and Shikaripura MLA B S Yediyurappa's house, were damaged in stone pelting.
State Congress President D K Shivakumar alleged "internal conspiracy" in the BJP as the reason for stone pelting on Yediyurappa's house; while Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hit back stating that there is evidence to prove that Congress people were behind it and the violence was systematically planned.
"What is he (Shivakumar) saying? Congress is conspiring everywhere. Those who have been caught locally are all from the Congress. They are Congress leaders- what does D K Shivakumar have to say about it?" Bommai said in response to a question.
"Congress leaders have been caught on camera...the (Banjara) community people did not know anything, they (Congress) have spread false news that the community will be removed from the SC list and they were instigated. It was systematically planned after a meeting the previous night. I'm saying this with evidence," he added.
State Home Minister Araga Jananendra too alleged that some parties were trying to gain political mileage, and police are inquiring into those involved in the incident and the "politics" was behind it.
"The incident in Shikaripura is unfortunate, this has happened due to misconception by some people who were incited. one cannot expect innocent people to indulge in such acts. I have information that some people with political intention were behind the incident, inquiry is on in this regard," he said
"Those involved in four to five other cases are behind this incident...innocent people were incited....indulging in stone pelting on police, on the residence of Yediyurappa is not right. Everyone has to maintain peace," he said.
He said Yediyurappa has requested not to take action against anyone for stone pelting at his house, but added that the police were attacked; two to three of them are in hospital. "Arson was created by taking law into hands...police have brought the situation under control."
The Cabinet on Friday had recommended a 6 per cent internal quota for SC (Left), 5.5 per cent for SC (Right), 4.5 per cent for touchables (Banjara, Bhovi, Korcha, Kuruma etc) and 1 per cent for others. The recommendation will be sent to the union government.
A section of Scheduled Castes has been demanding internal reservation alleging that only a few influential sub-castes were taking away a majority of the benefits while many communities were still marginalised.
Commenting on Monday's incident in Shikaripura, Shivakumar claimed that the reason for stone pelting on Yediyurappa's house is BJP's internal politics, to finish him off politically.
"Yediyurappa is not CM, he is not part of the government. The Chief Minister (Bommai) has created a big confusion on the reservation issue. Now BJP and Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) want to bring him to the centre stage, in a way he (Shah) conceded neglecting him (Yediyurappa), so he had recently visited his house for a breakfast....there are a lot of internal things," he said.
If stones were pelted on CM's house or those in power, it is different, as it would have been seen as an expression of anger, but pelting stones on Yediyurappa's house means internal fight, Shivakumar claimed.
Also targeting the government on its decision to scrap the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota and distribute it equally among the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, Shivakumar alleged the move was made "without a Backward Class commission report".
"We won't accept it, our government will come to power after 40 days, we will scrap it," he declared.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah commenting on violence and attack on Yediyurappa's house said, someone from the BJP would have done it, Yediyurappa himself has said the incident might have been the result of some misconception, and has not blamed the Congress.
Banjaras have been opposing internal reservations since the beginning, he said.
Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy commenting on the violence said, the BJP government created such a situation, they will have to rectify it.
Reservation should not be given for the sake of politics or vote as wrong decisions will create rift between the communities, he said, "I appreciate Muslim community, had they come to streets against the government's decision of scrapping their 4 per cent reservation under OBC list it would have worsened the situation...it is low level politics by BJP to create bloodshed in the society."
#WATCH | Shivamogga, Karnataka | Shikaripura road blocked by Banjara community opposing reservation announced by State government. pic.twitter.com/UG3eOD6koJ
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2023
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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.
