PM security breach: Amarinder Singh calls for President's rule in Punjab
Ferozepur, Jan 5: Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday called for President's rule in the state after a breach was reported here in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security.
Amarinder said the Channi government had utterly failed in ensuring law and order in the state.
Modi on Wednesday returned without addressing a rally in the poll-bound state after his convoy got stuck in a road blockade near Hussainiwala.
"If we have to keep our state safe and keep law and order here, then I think President's rule should be imposed," the Punjab Lok Congress chief told media after addressing a rally here, where Modi too was scheduled to speak.
Amarinder, who left Congress to form his own party last year November, has allied with BJP to contest the upcoming polls.
"We are 10 km away from border in Pakistan, where function was kept (in Ferozepur). If you cannot ensure PM's security, what can you do? We need a strong government," he said.
He attributed complete failure of security to the CM and the home minister of the state and said they have no right to stay in office.
Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover when it was 30 kms away from National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, which he was going to visit.
He had earlier landed in Bathinda and was going by road to Hussainiwala, when his convoy found that the road ahead was blocked by agitating farmers.
In its statement issued after the incident, the MHA also asked the Punjab government to fix responsibility for the lapse and take strict action.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at the event in Ferozepur told public that the PM's programme was postponed and not cancelled.
Modi was visiting Punjab after a gap of two years and first time since the repealing of the three farm laws, the cause of a year-long farmer-stir at Delhi borders.
Amarinder in his address attacked both Congress and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for promising "freebies" and asked them to reveal the source of money with which they are seeking to fund these ventures.
He also spoke about several schemes he started in his four-and-half-year tenure before he was deposed.
Current Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi succeeded Amarinder Singh after a rift in the state Congress that led to the latter's unceremonious exit.
Amarinder said he fulfilled 92 per cent of poll promises he made during 2017 state assembly elections.
"Navjot Sidhu and other Congress leaders hold press conference and say they will put out achievements of their five-year rule, but on the other hand they mislead people saying I did nothing.
"Congress will go to people with a five-year report card, says Sidhu. If I have done nothing, with what report card will he go before people? People understand their lies and know about achievements of my government, he said.
The veteran politician also said under his tenure 1.6 lakh people got government jobs, and 20 lakh others in private sector.
He said the Congress leaders in state are confused about what to tell people, adding they should stick to one version.
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.
