PM Modi asked me to work with loyalty in interest of Karnataka: CM Bommai
New Delhi(PTI): Amid opposition furore over the bitcoin scam in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, and said he has been asked to work with loyalty and boldness in the interest of the people of the state and "not to worry".
Bommai, who is on a two-day visit to the national capital, met Modi for 30 minutes at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence and discussed in detail many issues especially related to administrative steps taken in the last 100 days after taking over as chief minister of Karnataka.
Asked if the bitcoin scam was discussed, the Karnataka chief minister told reporters after the meeting, "I tried to share about it. He (Modi) said not to worry...He told me to work with loyalty and boldness in the interest of people, rest everything will be fine".
Bitcoins are not recognised as legal tender in many countries, including India.
A bitcoin scam has recently jostled the Karnataka government.
Opposition Congress leaders have alleged that "influential politicians" are involved in the scam after officials seized bitcoins worth Rs nine crore from a city-based hacker, Srikrishna alias Sriki, who is also accused of hacking into government portals, sourcing drugs through the dark net, and paying for it through cryptocurrency.
Congress leader Priyank Kharge on Wednesday claimed that the bitcoin scam will cost Chief Minister Bommai his job and the BJP government will see a third chief minister this time too as witnessed in 2008-13.
The Congress has also accused the ruling BJP of a cover-up.
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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.
