Reservation based on religion unconstitutional, says Amit Shah in poll-bound Karnataka
Hubballi(PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said reservation based on religion was unconstitutional, and asserted that the BJP would implement the quota formula adopted by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai-led government in Karnataka.
He said, BJP has given tickets for May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka on merits of winnability, and not on the basis of majority or minority, and also nowhere a non-Lingayat candidate has replaced a Lingayat.
Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar who recently quit BJP and joined Congress will not win the polls this time, Shah declared, as he pointed out that Hubballi-Dharwad has always voted for the BJP.
"I want to assure the people of Karnataka that whatever formula of reservation that has been adopted by the Bommai government, we would implement it on the ground, including the sub category reservation (internal reservation) among the Dalits. This is our promise," Shah said.
Addressing a press conference here, he said, reservation on the basis of religion was unconstitutional, and never would it have "permission" under the Constitution. About the reservation crossing 50 per cent, Shah said, "it has been challenged in the court, wait for its order."
Congress leaders are saying that they would once again bring in Muslim reservation. "I want to ask them with utmost humility as to whose will you reduce to bring it back? Whether you will reduce Vokkaligas or Lingayats or Dalits or STs (reservation). Congress will have to come out clear on this."
"Those Muslim community categories that are under OBC, we are ready to give them reservation even today and we are giving, but no one should be given reservation based on religion, it is the fundamental spirit of the Constitution," he added.
Just ahead of the announcement of polls in Karnataka, the State Cabinet led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had decided to scrap the four per cent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota and to distribute it equally among the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities.
Earlier, the government had decided to increase reservation for SCs from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for STs from 3 per cent to 7 per cent, taking the total reservation in Karnataka to 56 per cent, exceeding the 50 per cent cap, and recommended to the Centre to bring it under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
With a section of Scheduled Castes 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, the Cabinet had also made a recommendation in this regard to the Centre.
Asserting that there is no single instance of a non-Lingayat being given a ticket replacing a Lingayat, Shah hit out at the Congress by asking as to what the party did for the community.
"In their history Congress made two Lingayats Chief Ministers, both were humiliated and removed, one was removed by Indira Gandhi, while the other was humiliated and removed from airport by Rajiv Gandhi, I'm speaking about Patil Saab (Veerendra Patil), Congress cannot speak on this," he said, as he added that BJP respects all communities and tries to take along everyone.
Asked about family members of politicians getting tickets, while BJP accused JD(S) of parivarwaad (dynastic), the Union Minister said, unlike in JD(S), in BJP party president and Chief Ministers are not decided on the basis of the family. "Tell me someone who is not contesting polls in JD(S) family (Deve Gowda family), other than one or two."
"BJP is always against parivarwaad in the main system, at many places family members of party karyakartas may contest polls, but it doesn't mean BJP follows parivarwaad," he said.
To a question on Muslims not getting tickets from BJP, he said, "Tickets were given on the basis of merits of winnability, we do not believe in the concept of majority or minority."
Responding to a question on Congress seeking support of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Shah said, Congress party earlier used to take the support of Popular Front of India (PFI); now that it has been banned, it is asking support of its SDPI which is the political wing. "For Congress, secure and safe Karnataka is not important, winning elections is important. BJP will not join hands with such parties.
Jagadish Shettar quitting BJP will cause no loss to the party, he said, adding that "Jagadish Shettar will lose the election, Hubballi has always voted for BJP not to any person. BJP workers are united....reason for him not being given the ticket was conveyed to him."
Jagadish Shettar is contesting from Hubballi Dharwad Central constituency as Congress candidate.
On Shettar and former Deputy CM Laxman Savadi (who too quit the party recently), alleging that Lingayats were being humiliated in the BJP and holding party General Secretary B L Santosh responsible for it, Shah said, "BJP believes in team work and is not under any control of anyone. BJP Chief Minister (Bommai) himself is a Lingayat, what are they speaking (about party humiliating Lingayats)?"
In response to a question, he expressed confidence about BJP performing well and getting success in the Old Mysuru region, where the party is considered to be weak. "The BJP has entered the election race with the confidence of forming a full-majority government in Karnataka."
Hitting out at the opposition parties, Shah said for Congress, welfare of Karnataka and its development is not an issue, and it is just grappling for its ATM in Karnataka; while on the other hand the JD(S) is a dynastic party that confronts Congress in the election but sides with it after the election only to gain power.
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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.
