NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK
ATUL KOCHHAR’S TWEET HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE UGLY REALITY OF CYBERBULLYING. IT A REMINDER OF THE DANGERS THAT LURK IN THE ONLINE WORLD. THERE IS A NEED TO PUT IN PLACE SYSTEMS SO THAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS NOT ABUSED.
ATUL KOCHHAR
Indian-origin chef Atul Kochhar, was sacked by a Dubai hotel after he courted controversy by posting an anti-Islam tweet that caused outrage on social media. Kochhar, 48, the second Indian to receive a Michelin star, caused a furore after taking a dig at Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra over an episode in American TV series Quantico that purportedly portrayed Hindus as terrorists. Reacting to the hotel’s move, Kochhar said he was “deeply upset”.
ATAL B. VAJPAYEE
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was admitted to AIIMS on Monday following complaints of lower respiratory tract infection and kidney issues and was undergoing dialysis, hospital sources said. The hospital said that 93-yearold Vajpayee, who has been ailing for long, was admitted for a routine check-up and investigations and that his condition was stable.
BHAYYUJI MAHARAJ
Model-turned-godman Bhayyuji Maharaj, who had many veteran political leaders and Bollywood actors as his followers, on Tuesday allegedly shot himself dead at his residence. His suicide note which was recovered said, “Somebody should be there to handle duties of family. I am leaving, much stressed out, fed up.” He was last seen sitting with a woman in a local restaurant for about an hour before they both left the place in their separately cars.
RAHUL GANDHI
Rahul Gandhi served his critics something to snigger as he told a large gathering in Delhi that the founder of Coca-Cola started by selling shikanji (lemonade) and McDonalds was born from a dhaba. Mr Gandhi used the anecdotes to target the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of benefiting a handful of industrialists. Rahul Gandhi faced a similar derision over a comment he made in 2013 to a gathering of Dalits. Twitter had a field day at his expense.
RAFAEL NADAL
Rafael Nadal hailed his 11th French Open title as “just incredible” after he demolished Austria’s Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 despite a worrying injury. The 32-year-old world number one now has 17 Grand Slam titles, just three behind great rival Roger Federer. Nadal joins Australia’s Margaret Court as the only player to win 11 titles at the same major. “To win 11 times here — it’s fantastic and not something I ever dreamed of ”, Nadal said.