‘JDS-BJP have unofficial alliance since 2014 in Mysore’: HD Kumaraswamy
Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has revealed that the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) [JDS] is not a recent development, citing an unofficial understanding between the two parties in Mysore since 2014.
Kumaraswamy made these remarks during a media interaction following a tulabhara seve ceremony at the Sri Nanjundeshwara Swamy Temple in Nanjangud, Mysuru, on Thursday.
Addressing the existing harmony between the party cadres, Kumaraswamy described the pre-existing unofficial treaty in Mysore and emphasized that there was no discontent among them.
Responding to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statement predicting Kumaraswamy's defeat in Mandya, Kumaraswamy questioned Siddaramaiah's credibility as an astrologer and asserted that the people would ultimately decide the outcome of the elections.
ALSO READ: BJP denies ticket to Union Minister Narayanaswamy from Chitradurga LS seat
Referring to Siddaramaiah's labeling of him as a migrant, Kumaraswamy retorted by pointing out Siddaramaiah's own transition to the Congress party and his criticism of original Congress members. Kumaraswamy asserted his Kannadiga identity and his right to contest elections anywhere, including Mandya, where he is set to compete against his old friend.
“Siddaramaiah has called me a migrant. Isn’t he a migrant in Congress? Hasn’t he trashed other original Congress people and enjoying power? I am a Kannadiga. I can contest anywhere. I must compete with my old friend in Mandya this time. My fate is so. Sometimes our own friends turn against us. Let it be so”, Kumaraswamy said.
Regarding the Mekedatu project, Kumaraswamy defended former Prime Minister H D Devegowda and questioned the moral authority of the Congress party to criticize him. Regarding the JDS's support for Sumalatha, Kumaraswamy emphasized the need to move beyond political differences and recalled his close association with her late husband, Ambarish. He also expressed willingness to meet Sumalatha if necessary.
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.
