NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU IS KNOWN FOR HIS FEISTY PERSONALITY. HIS HUGGING THE PAK ARMY CHIEF HAS COME COME UNDER FIRE. BUT THE HUG IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN. IT IS TIME THE TWO COUNTRIES WALK THE PATH OF PEACE.

NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU

Cricketer- turned- politician Navjot Singh Sidhu came under attack by political parties in India for embracing Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa at the swearing- in of Imran Khan on August 18. Defending himself Sidhu said that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hugged their Pakistani counterparts during their visits to the country. “Now tell me how was my hug different. These are gestures. How can you criticise anyone for that.”

NIRAV MODI

The UK has confirmed to the CBI that fugitive billionaire Nirav Modi, wanted in India’s biggest banking fraud is in their country. Based on this confirmation, the CBI has submitted an extradition request to the home ministry. The agency has also requested authorities in the UK to detain him on the basis of the Red Corner Notice issued by the Interpol against him.

GADE HANUMA VIHARI

Vihari is the latest from Hyderabad to make the Indian cricket team. He was picked for the fourth and fifth Tests of the ongoing series in England.“It’s a dream come true. I have been working so hard for it. Getting into that Virat Kohliled team — which is one of the best India has produced — is surreal. I don’t know how to express my joy. Representing the country is the best you can do in any sport and I am super thrilled,” Vihari said.

GURUDAS KAMAT

Congress veteran Gurudas Kamat, a Nehru- Gandhi family loyalist who was known for his forthrightness throughout his career spanning over four decades, died on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack. He was 63. A five- time member of Parliament from Mumbai, he was first elected to Lok Sabha at the age of 30 and was the Union minister of state for home affairs with the additional charge of communications and information technology from 2009 till 2011, when he resigned.

NIRMALA SITHARAMAN

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was criticised for snapping at Karnataka tourism minister, S. R. Mahesh with the video of the incident going viral. However, the defence ministry issued a strong rebuttal on Saturday explaining the context for her outburst and criticising the “misrepresentation of facts.” “The personal remarks made against the minister were in bad taste and do not merit a response,” it said.