SKM demands strict punishment for those who threw ink on Tikait in Bengaluru
New Delhi, May 30: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has demanded strict punishment for those who threw ink on Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait in Bengaluru on Monday.
The umbrella organisation of over 40 farm unions has also demanded that the police officers "guilty for this negligence" be suspended and a judicial inquiry ordered in the matter.
Alleging that the Karnataka government had not made any security arrangements for Tikait, the SKM said, "The photo of the prime accused along with former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, BJP's state vice-president Vijayendra, current Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and Irrigation Minister Govind Karjol has now made it clear that the attack was sponsored by the BJP."
Miscreants threw ink on Tikait during an event organised by a farmers' organisation at Bengaluru's Gandhi Bhavan on Monday, following which three people were arrested.
Soon after the incident, clashes broke out between the organisers of the event and the miscreants, leading to both sides attacking each other with plastic chairs. The miscreants then allegedly shouted "Modi, Modi".
"It is also clear that the BJP government had not made any security arrangements, despite the tense atmosphere due to a television channel's propaganda campaign against the farmers' movement for the past few days," the SKM said in a statement.
It said it would not be appropriate to ignore the attack as a small incident since Tikait was "attacked" on earlier occasions as well.
"Rakesh Tikait should be provided security. This incident has once again exposed the anti-farmer face of the BJP. Farmers know how to teach a lesson through peaceful and democratic means to this government, which has repeatedly sponsored attacks on them," the statement said.
Jnanendra dismissed the allegation that those who targeted Tikait were BJP leaders.
"We are in touch with the officers. Three people have been arrested and are being interrogated. I denounce this act. Everyone has got the right to freedom of expression under the Constitution," the Karnataka home minister 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.
