Rajasthan govt decides to change brown uniform in public schools; courts controversy
Jaipur(PTI): The Rajasthan government's decision to change the colour of its school uniform has stoked a controversy with the opposition BJP calling it a move to please the Congress high command.
The earlier BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje had in 2017 changed the uniform colours to shades of brown. The Congress back then had alleged these colours resembled the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's uniform.
Nearly three years after coming to power in December 2018, the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government has now issued orders to revise the colours from the next academic year.
As per the school education department's order on December 8, boys will be seen in surf blue shirts and dark grey trousers while the girl students will wear surf blue kurtas or shirts and dark grey salwars or skirts.
Former education minister Vasudev Devnani said the previous government had changed the school uniform colour to give a new look and a proud experience and that the change was introduced after discussions with students and teachers.
Calling the Gehlot government's decision very shameful , he said it was to please the party high command.
The decision will put a financial burden on 98 lakh parents, Devnani pointed out.
There is no rule of law in the state. Serious crimes are being committed against girls in government schools and the level of education is deteriorating. But, the attention of the government is maliciously focused only on the change of colour of the cycle, uniform and curriculum, he said.
Devnani also alleged that the enrolment in government schools was on the decline.
Another BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said that Congress government's decision was illogical and that it would further burden the parents who are reeling under financial distress due to COVID-19.
Rejecting the BJP's allegations, School Education Minister BD Kalla said the change should not be seen in political light.
He said the process of changing the uniform was approved by his predecessor Govind Singh Dotasra. There is nothing political. It is the BJP which always works on an agenda, he said.
Dotasra, also the Congress chief, said the decision to change the school uniform was taken on the recommendation of a six-member committee.
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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.
