Mysuru royal family scion urges writer Banu Mushtaq to clarify comments on Kannada, Goddess
Mysuru(PTI): BJP MP and the scion of Mysuru royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar on Friday urged International Booker prize winner Banu Mushtaq to clarify her position on the Kannada language and Goddess Chamundeshwari.
The MP’s demand follows the Karnataka government's decision to invite Mushtaq to inaugurate the Mysuru Dasara festival this year, which involves rituals dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari. It has led to a controversy with the BJP questioning the choice of the state government.
Mushtaq won the prestigious award this year for the book ‘Heart Lamp: Selected Stories’, translated to English from her Kannada book ‘Edeya Hanate’ by Deepa Bhasthi.
Wadiyar demanded that Banu clarify her 2023 comments about the Kannada language.
In the viral video, Banu Mushtaq had reportedly said the practice of elevation of Kannada language to the status of Goddess and placing it inside a temple was exclusionary.
"We have not received any clarification yet. We have heard that she has said she has no problem in worshipping Goddess Chamundeshwari. If that’s true, then we don’t have any problem," the BJP MP told reporters in Mysuru.
Banu should clarify her stand because Chamundi Hill is a religious place and she would be required to worship the Mother Goddess, he said.
"We will welcome her if she accepts the background of religious rituals involved during the event. She has to first clarify why she said that (in 2023). It will be good if she withdraws her statement because it is a matter that has hurt the Hindu religious sentiments," Wadiyar said.
The MP said that while he welcomes the government's choice of Mushtaq, a clarification is needed before she participates in the religious ceremonies of the Dasara festival.
"It’s an obvious question because she has to explain that her action will not hurt Hindu sentiments during the cultural and religious event. She has to offer an explanation because this is a matter related to religion and the Kannada language. Kannada state and Kannada language is the Goddess, who is associated with Goddess Bhuvaneshwari," the MP said.
On Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s statement that Chamundi Hills and Goddess Chamundeshwari are not exclusive property of Hindus, Wadiyar called it the "most irresponsible".
“Chamundi Hill is very much a Hindu religious place and is one of the Shakti Peethas. Rishi Markandeya had installed the statue of Goddess here. There are traditions, which are all related to Hinduism,” the MP said.
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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.
