Disappointed over rejection of TN Tableau for Republic Day, says TN CM, seeks PM's intervention
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday expressed disappointment over the Centre's rejection of the State Tableau for the Republic Day celebrations in the national capital and sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's immediate intervention to have it included.
Excluding the tableau would deeply hurt the sentiments and patriotic feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu, he said. "That the expert committee chooses to ignore and reject all the seven designs shown to it as per the modifications suggested by its members is unacceptable," the Chief Minister said.
"I am given to understand that Tamil Nadu was not called for the fourth round of meeting and it was informed that Tamil Nadu has been left out while shortlisting," Stalin claimed in the letter addressed to the Prime Minister, a copy of which was made available to the media here.
Stating that this was a "matter of grave concern to Tamil Nadu and its people," he sought the PM's "urgent intervention to arrange to include the tableau of Tamil Nadu" that will showcase the freedom fighters of Tamil Nadu in the Republic Day parade 2022 in New Delhi.
Expressing "disappointment" to know that Tamil Nadu has been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the ensuing Republic Day parade on January 26 in New Delhi, he said the Defence Ministry had proposed "India @ 75 Freedom Struggle, Ideas @ 75, Achievements @ 75, Actions @ 75, & Resolve @ 75" as the theme of the tableaux for Republic Day Parade, 2022.
Accordingly, Tamil Nadu submitted sketches choosing the theme "Tamil Nadu in the Freedom Struggle" depicting the renowned freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu.
The State representatives appeared before the expert committee for tableaux selection thrice. In the first meeting, the expert committee expressed satisfaction about Tamil Nadu's theme which depicted freedom fighters of Tamil Nadu during the British Raj at the front and during the East India company's period at the rear of the tableau, he said.
"The design had V O Chidambaranar (VOC), the famous freedom fighter who founded the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in 1906 during Indian Independence movement to compete against the British. VOC was charged with sedition by the British Government and sentenced to imprisonment," Stalin said.
Also, the design had Subramania Bharathi, popularly known as Maha Kavi Bharathiar who kindled patriotism in the minds of the people with his fiery patriotic songs and writings during the Indian Independence movement. The poet was held in high esteem by Mahatma Gandhi also. The rear of the tableau was designed to showcase a statue of Rani Velu Nachiyar riding a horse with a sword in hand and with women soldiers.
She was the first Indian queen to wage a war with the East India Company in India. She was the queen of Sivagangai region from 1780 to 1790 and blew up an ammunition storage of East India Company by arranging a suicide attack. "She is hailed as Veeramangai' a brave woman," the Chief Minister explained in the letter.
Marudhupandiyar brothers (known as Maruthu brothers) offered protection to Queen Velu Nachiyar and helped her to win the war against the East India Company and win back Sivagangai. "They also became Kings of Sivagangai and later were executed by the East India Company. The images of Maruthupandiyars are proposed to be depicted in the tableaux," the Chief Minister said and added that V O Chidambaranar, Maha Kavi, Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar and Maruthu brothers are some of the several freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu.
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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.
