RS reserves decision on introduction of BJP MP's bill on amending preamble of Constitution
New Delhi, Dec 3: Opposition MPs on Friday stalled the introduction of a private member's bill by BJP MP K J Alphons that seeks to amend the preamble of the Constitution.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh had initially allowed the introduction of the bill, but later reserved his decision on it after a consensus was reached following protests by RJD MP Manoj Jha and MDMK's Vaiko.
When the Upper House assembled post-lunch for Private Members' Legislative Business, Alphons was called to introduce the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (amendment of the Preamble) on the floor.
When the Deputy Chairman allowed its introduction, Jha and Vaiko protested saying such draft legislation requires the prior assent of the President of India.
The Deputy Chairman, however, said such a bill does not require the permission of the President.
Opposing it, Jha said the bill is about amendment in preamble, which is part the basic structure of the Constitution.
"Preamble is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Please do not do this," said Jha.
Alhpons sought permission of the chair to speak on the bill. The Deputy Chairperson declined permission.
"At this juncture, you are not allowed to discuss the bill. If anything is there, it is on the House to decide on this and not the chair," the Deputy Chairperson said, adding that the member has a right to introduce such bill.
However, citing rules, Jha said such bills are subject to the recommendations of the President under article 117 of the Constitution.
"Amendment to preamble is an attack on the edifice of the Constitution. Are we allowing this house to ransack everything?" said Jha.
Some members from the treasury benches suggested that it has happened earlier also.
On this, Jha said: "A bad precedent should not become a norm."
Replying to it, the Deputy Chairperson said he has to follow the process.
"This bill does not require the assent of the President, I am making it clear to you. This is on the House to decide and not me," he said.
Seeing a logjam, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan suggested the chair to reserve its decision and give a decision later.
"I suggest the Chair to reserve this and give a ruling on a later date," he said.
Consenting to this, Deputy Chairman said, "If this is the opinion of the House, then we reserve it."
During the Private Members' Legislative Business, several members introduced, including V Vijaysai Reddy, Prasanna Acharya, Vaiko, P Wilson, Sasmit Patra, Tiruchi Siva, KTS Tulsi, Fauzia Khan, Neeraj Dangi and Harnath Singh Yadav, introduced their respective bills.
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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.
