PM Modi cannot change my behavior by making me sit in ED office for five days, says Rahul Gandhi
Wayanad, Jul 1: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently faced an ED probe in the National Herald case, on Friday took a dig at the Prime Minister, alleging Narendra Modi adopted such a measure due to 'confusion' but did not know there would be no change in the Wayanad MP's behavior by making him sit in the central agency's office for five days.
Gandhi was quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi for five days last month in connection with the National Herald money laundering case.
"The Government of India...the Prime Minister thinks that by making me sit in the ED (office) for five days, I will change my behaviour. This is a confusion in the mind of the Prime Minister," the Gandhi told a UDF Bahujana Sangamam organised in Sulthan Bathery here against the Eco-Sensitive Zone policy of the BJP-ruled Centre and the CPI(M)-led state government.
Alleging that both the BJP and the CPI(M) believe in violence and that it was deep-rooted in their ideology, he said both think that by the means of violence and by threatening they can shape other people's behaviour.
"They both think, by acting violently they can threaten people. This is a very deep confusion in their mind. Because they lack courage. They think violence can shape other people's behaviour. That is not the case. Because there are many people whose behaviour cannot be shaped by the violence and by threats," the Congress leader said.
Referring to the SFI activists' attack on his office in Kalpetta last week, Gandhi said the CPI(M) also believed that by damaging his office he would change his behaviour.
"My behaviour is shaped by my affection for the people of my country. It is shaped by the affection for the toiling masses of this country. It can never be shaped by my opponents or my enemies," Gandhi added.
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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.
