Kerala Guv to review Malayalam Language Bill after Karnataka border authority's intervention
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Border Areas Development Authority (KBADA) has said the Kerala governor has promised a thorough review of the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, following concerns raised over its impact on Kannada-speaking linguistic minorities in Kasaragod district.
A KBADA delegation met Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum to him seeking the stalling and reconsideration of the Bill, which mandates Malayalam as the first language from Classes 1 to 10 in all government and private Kannada-medium schools in the district.
"The bill proposed by the Kerala government is wholly unconstitutional and is against the interests of the large number of Kannada-speaking linguistic minorities residing in Kasaragod district of Kerala," the KBADA said in a press release.
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It pointed out that a similar bill was rejected by the president in 2017 and noted that the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has repeatedly advised Kerala to protect the interests of linguistic minorities. It cited constitutional safeguards under Articles 30, 347, 350, 350A and 350B, which it said are being violated.
According to the KBADA, constitutional provisions mandate the appointment of Kannada teachers in Kannada-medium schools, installation of Kannada signboards at police stations, railway stations and national highways in Kasaragod, use of Kannada in official correspondence in public offices and recruitment based on the local linguistic-minority population.
The KBADA also sought regular bi-monthly meetings by the Kasaragod district collector's committee to address minority issues.
The press release warned that enforcing the Bill would force Kannada-speaking students to learn Malayalam even if they are unfamiliar with the language, adversely affecting their education and future prospects, especially if they pursue higher studies outside Kerala.
It said the move would have far-reaching consequences for students who have studied in Kannada as their mother tongue.
The delegation comprised KBADA Secretary Prakash V Mattihalli, member Subbaiahkatte, Tekkekere Shankaranarayana Bhat, Jayaprakash Narayana Tottetodu, president of Kerala Kasapa, advocate Muralidhara Ballukarya and Sukesh A, President of the Kerala State Teachers' Association, along with other Kannadigas from Kasaragod.
"The Hon'ble Governor assured the delegation that the bill would be stalled, thoroughly reviewed, and that the interests of Kannadigas in Kasaragod would be safeguarded," the KBADA said.
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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.
