Karnataka CM must resign to ensure fair investigation in recruitment scam: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi, Jul 4: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the BJP of "brazen corruption" in Karnataka and demanded the sacking of Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai to ensure a fair investigation in the police recruitment scam.
The former Congress president also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his repeated assertion of not allowing corruption under his watch - "Na khaoonga, na khane dunga" - and asked why he has not taken any action against Bommai.
"BJP's brazen corruption and 'Sale of Jobs' destroyed the dreams of thousands of youth in Karnataka. The CM, who was then HM, must be sacked for any fair investigation," Gandhi said in a tweet.
"Why hasn't the PM taken any action? Is this the BJP government's 'Sab Khaenge, Sabko Khilaenge' moment," he asked.
Gandhi was referring to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of police sub-inspectors in Karnataka. A senior IPS officer has also been held in the scam and remanded in police custody for 10 days.
Chief Minister Bommai said on Monday the government has given a free hand to the CID which has taken action based on the evidence.
"I had already said that however mighty they are, we will take action. Because of our government, a senior officer was arrested," Bommai told reporters.
Congress general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala hit out at Bommai.
"As layers of corruption in PSI scam get unearthed, only two questions need to be answered are - could PSI scam happen without connivance of political masters in BJP? Who was the Home Minister at the time of scam? Answer: Sh. Basavaraj Bommai."
"The responsibility for PSI scam lies at the doorstep of then Home Minister, Sh. Basavaraj Bommai, nothing more - nothing less. Arrest of ADGP is insufficient.
"'A fair investigation can happen only when Sh. Bommai resigns or is sacked! Youth await justice," Surjewala said.
BJP's brazen corruption & “Sale of Jobs” destroyed the dreams of thousands of youth in Karnataka.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 4, 2022
The CM, who was then HM, must be sacked for any fair investigation.
Why hasn't the PM taken ANY ACTION?
Is this the BJP govt’s “Sab Khaenge, Sabko Khilaenge” moment? pic.twitter.com/h8zrwt0ZZj
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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.
