Karnataka Dy CM confident Dharmasthala 'conspiracy' will be exposed through investigation
Bengaluru, Aug 15 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday expressed confidence that the alleged conspiracy to tarnish Dharmasthala's image will come to light through the ongoing investigation. He also indicated that strict action would be taken if the allegations in the Dharmasthala "mass burial" case are found to be false.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the state government, is probing claims of mass murder, rape, and mass burials in Dharmasthala spanning the past two decades.
The complainant, a former sanitation worker whose identity has been kept confidential, alleged that between 1995 and 2014, he was forced to handle bodies—including those of women and minors—some of which bore signs of sexual assault. He has submitted a statement before a magistrate.
As part of the probe, the SIT has been digging at several locations identified by the complainant along the banks of the Netravathi River in Dharmasthala, recovering skeletal remains at two sites so far.
"Not in favour or against Dharmasthala; things should happen in accordance with the law. I have confidence. I have witnessed the devotion and power there up close. This conspiracy will come out in the days ahead through investigation, in my personal opinion," Shivakumar told reporters here.
He said he was confident that Home Minister G Parameshwara would reveal the truth during a debate on the Dharmasthala issue in the Assembly on Monday.
Asked about the alleged conspiracy, Shivakumar said, "the home minister will inform on this. The chief minister (Siddaramaiah) has also said that no one should make false allegations or run a campaign against any religious person or institution. This was stated in the Congress legislature party meeting."
Shivakumar added that if the allegations are proven false, strict action would be taken following the law.
"Law is equal for everyone. If anyone is wrong, they will be punished. But no one should unnecessarily defame others," he said.
Parameshwara had earlier told the Assembly that legal action could be taken against the complainant if the SIT finds the allegations to be false.
During the Assembly discussion, BJP legislators criticised the government for its handling of the investigation and for inaction against what they called a "slander campaign" targeting Dharmasthala and the temple.
The party demanded an interim report and action against the complainant and others allegedly behind the allegations, claiming they were part of a "toolkit to denigrate Hindu gods and their places of worship."
Parameshwara is expected to respond to the discussion on Monday.
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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.
