There is video showing ex-Minority Panel chief accusing Vijayendra of trying to 'bribe' him: CM
Belagavi (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that there was video footage showing former state Minority Commission Chairperson Anwar Manippady accusing state BJP president B Y Vijayendra of attempting to "bribe" him by offering Rs 150 crore, to hush up his report on the Waqf encroachments.
The chief minister's statement came in response to Manippady on Sunday denying such an offer was made to him by Vijayendra, and instead alleging that Congress leaders had tried to bribe him.
Manippady, as the chairman of the Karnataka State Minority Commission, had prepared the report and submitted it to the then BJP government in March 2012. It was tabled in the legislature in 2020, when the BJP was again in power.
"Manippady had himself said it in the past. Which (statement of his) is right and which one is wrong? Manippady is the one who said it first, based on which we reacted. If he now says no, what should be done, tell me. According to me, our reaction is right," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "He (Manippady) is the one who had claimed that Rs150 crore was offered to him. There is a video recording. He said it at a press meet. Now, after many years, he is denying it. What should be done, tell me."
Asked if he would order a CBI probe into alleged claims by Manippady, the CM said, "he (Manippady) has said it. Let's see. The issue will be raised and discussed."
Siddaramaiah, earlier in a statement on Saturday said -- Manippady had publicly stated that Vijayendra visited his house during B S Yediyurappa's tenure as CM and offered Rs 150 crore to be silent about the Waqf property encroachment report.
Demanding a CBI probe, the CM in his statement said -- Manippady has further stated that he sent Vijayendra out of his house when he offered money, and reported the incident to PM Narendra Modi and the BJP president.
Vijayendra on Sunday said the Congress and Siddaramaiah seem to be "perturbed" by the allegations of corruption and scam against them, especially by the MUDA site allotment case against the CM.
Questioning whether there was any logic in the allegation, he asked: ".... why should I go to Anwar Manippady's house and offer Rs 150 crore? That too to save Congress leaders (named in the report)?
Siddaramaiah, in response to another question, said his government was ready for discussion on issues concerning north Karnataka and to respond to the debate on Waqf issue in the Assembly, during the ongoing winter session of state legislature here.
"It has been decided that there will be discussion on issues concerning north Karnataka for three days -- Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Don't know what subject the opposition raises. Debate on Waqf issue and reply to it is still pending...the government is ready for both discussion on north Karnataka and to reply to the debate on Waqf issue," he said.
Asked about Union Minister Pralhad Joshi demanding that the CM apologise to Panchamasali Lingayat community for police lathi charge during the community's protest seeking higher reservation in Belagavi last week, Siddaramaiah said, "Why didn't Joshi do it? Why didn't Joshi resolve the issue and fulfill the demand (when BJP was in power)? The ones who did not resolve the issue have to apologise."
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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.
