BRITAIN’S chancellor of exchequer Rishi Sunak said his wife was unfairly attacked over her connections with Indian IT major Infosys.
A news channel had last week asked Sunk if he was “giving advice to others you’re not following in your own home”, referring to his wife Akshata Murthy’s reported stake in Infosys which has a presence in Russia.
In a conversation with the BBC on Thursday (31), Sunak drew a parallel between himself and American actor Will Smith whose wife was mocked at the Oscars ceremony over the weekend.
“We both had our wives attacked… At least I didn't get up and slap anybody, which is good”, he said.
Smith on Sunday (27) slapped comedian Chris Rock for joking about his wife.
"I think it's totally fine for people to take shots at me. It's fair game.… (But) it's very upsetting and, I think, wrong for people to try and come at my wife,” Sunak said.
Infosys, co-founded by Murthy’s father NR Narayana Murthy, clarified that it has a “small team of employees” based out of Russia servicing some of its global clients locally.
The Bangalore-headquartered company denied it has any active business relationships with Russian enterprises.
Sunak said he admires his father-in-law who is regarded as one of the pioneers of the Indian IT revolution.
“With regard to my father-in-law... I have nothing but enormous pride and admiration for everything that he's achieved.”
"And no amount of attempted smearing is going to make me change that because he's wonderful and has achieved a huge amount," the chancellor said.
It’s wrong to attack my wife: Rishi Sunak
Dharavi slum in Mumbai
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)