Election Commission Vigilant Against Inflammatory News During Elections
Bengaluru: The Election Commission is closely monitoring the dissemination of pamphlets, paid news, fake news, and content inciting caste and communal tensions during the election period, stated Additional Chief Electoral Officer Venkatesh Kumar.
Addressing a workshop organized in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer and the Information Department at the Mahatma Gandhi Media Center of the Information and Public Relations Department in the city on Wednesday, Kumar mentioned that the Media Certification Monitoring Committee (MCMC) will approve advertisements on TV, channels, and social media before broadcasting.
The Election Commission is also keeping a watchful eye on paid news. If instances of paid news are reported, district-level election officials will issue notices to the concerned candidates within 48 hours. Kumar said that action will be taken against those who fail to obtain permission for their campaign material.
ALSO READ: Rs 5.85 Cr cash, alcohol worth Rs 21.48 Cr seized in run-up to LS polls in K'taka
Kumar highlighted the significant role of the media in elections, referring to it as the "fourth organ" in a democracy. He stressed the importance of mutual monitoring between the commission and the media.
He also outlined the regulations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), stating that incumbent parties are prohibited from announcing new schemes or starting government works. However, he clarified that there would be no hindrance in implementing drought relief, emergency services, natural calamity relief, medical treatment, or the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Kumar further said that political figures cannot use government vehicles, officers, or staff for election campaigning, and there should be no new notifications, appointments, or transfers in government jobs during the election period.
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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.
