K'taka govt to bring in law to free Hindu temples from laws, rules that control them presently: CM
Hubballi (K'taka)(PTI): The Karnataka government will bring in a law aimed at freeing Hindu temples from laws and rules that control them at present, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said here on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister also said that the government would constitute a special task force for the implementing the anti-conversion bill, once it becomes a law.
"Our seniors have informed me about things...places of worship of other communities are safe under different laws and they are free to practice. But our Hindu temples have been subjected to various controls and government laws and rules. There is a system under which permission has to be sought from higher officials to even utilize temple revenues for its own development," Bommai said.
Addressing the state BJP executive here, he said "it is the wish of our elders that Hindu temples be freed from such controls and laws."
"I want to tell this executive that our government will bring in a law to this effect before the budget session. We will free our temples from such laws and conditions. Other than regulation, there won't be anything else. We will ensure that they are managed independently," he added.
This is seen as another major move by the Bommai government after it got the contentious "Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021", popularly known as the 'anti-conversion bill' passed in the legislative assembly during the recent legislature session in Belagavi.
The Bill, however, is yet to become a law as it is pending for tabling and passage in the Legislative Council.
Stating that the government has been able to give momentum to the anti conversion bill that had been pending for long, Bommai said it is because the BJP was committed to it.
"By ensuring that the anti conversion bill becomes an Act in the days to come, I will also constitute a special task force for its implementation," he said.
Taking a dig at Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah for his comments that the Congress would repeal the proposed anti-conversion legislations immediately after coming to power, the Chief Minister said, "his dream will never come true and for this very reason you (Congress) will not come to power."
"The anti conversion legislation, that provides for protection of the right to freedom of religion, will remain as long as the sun and moon are there," he added.
Bommai also said that the government has decided to develop Anjanadri in Koppal district (that has been revered for years as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman) to the international level.
"After the Ram Mandir inauguration (in Ayodhya), we will get this development work also inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We will convert it into a holy site," he added.
The Chief Minister promised to provide a new dimension to the administration from January onwards.
He also said that a road map will be prepared for the 2023 assembly polls in 2022, so that the government's report card is presented before the people, while seeking their support.
Bommai said he would work to ensure that "the lotus blooms again in Vidhana Soudha in the 2023 assembly polls" and would take everyone together towards achieving this goal.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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
===================
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.
