We will fight those opposing Banu Mushtaq inaugurating Dasara, politically and legally: CM
Vijayapura (PTI): Those opposing International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq inaugurating this year's 'Mysuru Dasara', will be fought both politically and legally, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday.
Chief minister accused the BJP of doing politics in this issue.
He was responding to a question on BJP leader and former Mysuru MP Prathap Simha moving the Karnataka High Court on Saturday seeking a stay on the state government's invitation to Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara.
"Very happy, let him (Simha) go (to court), it will be decided in the court. Why had no one gone to court when (poet) Nissar Ahmed inaugurated Dasara? He (Simha) was an MP then," Siddaramiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he pointed out that Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan had held Dasara festivals during their rule in Mysuru and Mirza Ismail, as Diwan of Mysuru, used to go on an elephant ride during the Dasara procession.
"They (BJP) are opposing for the sake of politics, we will also fight it out politically, also legally in the court," he added.
Dasara celebration will begin in Mysuru from September 22 and culminate on 'Vijayadashami', which falls on October 2 this year.
To a question on Mushtaq's alleged comments regarding the mother Kannada and Kannada flag that led to controversy, the CM said, "She is a Kannada writer. She got the International Booker Prize for her work....she is a Kannada literary figure and so the government has invited her to inaugurate Dasara."
Mysuru district administration on Wednesday had formally invited Mushtaq, despite objections from some sections, including opposition BJP.
Dasara is traditionally inaugurated on the first day of Navaratri by showering flowers on the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru amid chanting of Vedic hymns, at the premises of Chamundeshwari temple atop the Chamundi Hills in Mysuru.
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.
