BJP did not even wait for Manohar Parrikar's ashes to cool down: Shiv sena slams BJP
Mumbai, Mar 20: In a scathing attack on the political drama between the BJP and its allies in Goa over the leadership issue, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday dubbed it as a "terrible state of democracy", saying they did not even wait for late chief minister Manohar Parrikar's ashes to cool down.
The "shameless game of power" started even before Parrikar's ashes could merge with the land of Gomantak, the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
It claimed that had the BJP waited till Tuesday, its government in Goa would have fallen and one of the two deputy chief ministers would have joined the Congress and got the desired post, it claimed.
BJP MLA Pramod Sawant was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Goa just before 2 am on Tuesday, capping a day of hectic parleys between the saffron party and its allies to put a new government in place in the state.
After multiple postponements of the oath ceremony on Monday, the day Parrikar was cremated with state honours, 11 other ministers, including those from BJP's allies Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP), were also sworn in.
As per the power-sharing arrangement reached with allies, an MLA each from two small parties backing the BJP in Goa will be made deputy chief minister, according to sources.
They are GFP chief Vijai Sardesai and MGP legislator Sudin Dhavalikar.
"In the end, those who were eyeing their shares like cats ended the game post Monday midnight with the swearing in of Sawant as the chief minister along with his two deputies," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.
"This is a terrible state of democracy. They should have waited for Parrikar's ashes to cool down. What would have happened had they waited till Tuesday morning for the oath taking ceremony? it asked.
The pyre was burning while the "power hungry" were catching each others neck for power. There shouldn't have been a problem in waiting for at least four hours, it opined.
"But, the fear was of the outcome, that the Congress may manage to take Dhavalikar and Sardesai to its side," the editorial said.
The flowers showered on Parrikar's mortal remains could not even dry up but the whole "programme" was finished late night as the "lust" of those in power increased, it said in sarcastic remarks.
While the entire game of two people being appointed as deputy chief ministers was played, the innocent people of Goa had to helplessly endure all of it, it said.
"Even today, Goans are in mourning. After the former defence minister's demise, a day of national mourning was declared. But, these people did not even seem to have the idea that the national flag was flying half-mast," it said.
It was "shameful" that out of just 19 MLAs comprising the ruling coalition, two are to be made deputy chief ministers, said the Sena, an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
It claimed the BJP announced four years ago that there will be no deputy chief minister in any state it rules and so, the Sena was not given the post.
However, later, one was appointed in Bihar, two in Uttar Pradesh, it accepted the post in Jammu and Kashmir and now, two are getting the same in Goa, the Marathi daily pointed out.
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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.
