Centre okay with India-Pak cricket match but denies permission to Sikh 'jatha': Punjab CM Mann
Chandigarh (PTI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday slammed the Centre for giving its nod to the Asia Cup T20 cricket match between India and Pakistan, but denying permission to send a Sikh 'jatha' to the neighbouring country.
India beat Pakistan by seven wickets in Dubai on Sunday when the arch-rivals faced off for the first time since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, and the subsequent military strikes by India targeting terror hideouts across the border.
The match became a flashpoint of intense debate, with political parties, leaders, and the kin of the Pahalgam victims demanding a boycott of the clash due to cross-border links of the dastardly act.
Addressing a news conference here, Mann referred to the Centre's move to deny permission to send a Sikh ‘jatha’ (group of pilgrims) to Pakistan for Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev's 'Parkash Purb' (birth anniversary) celebrations in November, citing security reasons.
Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev, and Kartarpur, his final resting place, are both located in Pakistan.
“If a (cricket) match can be played, what is the fault of the pilgrims that they cannot go to Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib? Will everything happen according to the Centre's wishes," Mann asked.
The chief minister also referred to the ban on the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Punjabi movie 'Sardaar Ji 3' in India post the Pahalgam attack, as the film starred Pakistani actress Hania Amir.
Mann, who earlier this year came out in support of Dosanjh after the ban, said everyone still remembers how words like “gaddar” (traitor) were used even though the film was made before the Pahalgam attack on April 22.
People are also asking whether the BJP's policy is against Pakistan or against its own people, Mann claimed.
"Even the prime minister had said that blood and water cannot flow together... When they ban a film, it is the producer and the actors who suffer the loss. But the cricket match was played yesterday because its producer, who’s the son of 'bade sahab', should not suffer any loss,” Mann claimed, in an indirect reference to Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah, who is the chairman of the International Cricket Council.
“Now it is being said that the players did not shake hands with the rival team. But the fact is the two sides did play together. Did we not take catches lobbed by them? (BJP leader) Anurag Thakur says tournaments like Asia Cup are multilateral events in which one has to play.
“However, India boycotted the 1986 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka due to the civil unrest there. There was also a boycott when Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996,” Mann said.
In 1996, Australia and the West Indies refused to send their teams to co-hosts Sri Lanka after the bombing of the Central Bank in Colombo by the Tamil Tigers in January that year.
Alleging that the BJP government only does things which suit them, Mann said, "They will not allow a film to be released because it features an Pakistani artiste, but they have no problems with India and Pakistan playing cricket.
“What was the compulsion to play this match? The Pakistan Cricket Board will get a share of the profit, which will in turn be used in anti-India activities," he alleged.
On the Centre denying permission to Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan, Mann said BJP leaders Sunil Jakhar and Ravneet Singh Bittu should ask their leadership why the pilgrims are being stopped from going to the neighbouring country for Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary.
“For us Punjabis, it is not a matter of politics but a matter of faith,” he said.
“Cricket matches can be held as they suit BJP’s interests, but the feelings of the Sikhs can be hurt as they do not suit them,” Mann said.
Talking about the recent floods in Punjab, Mann said if there is a natural calamity in Afghanistan, the Centre sends aid to the country “immediately”.
“The Centre announced Rs 1,600 crore assistance in view of the floods. But when I asked the chief secretary, I was told that the money is yet to be released.”
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Trump rushed out of dinner event after shots fired; one arrested
Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the hotel.
The incident took place at around 8:34 PM local time when dinner was served. At that time, Trump was seen having a conversation with Weijia Jiang, the President of the White House Correspondents' Association, and mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was scheduled to present a show at the marquee event at the Washington Hilton here.
Secret Service officials and other security personnel covered the President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J D Vance, and the Second Lady Usha Vance, who were seated at the head table, and escorted them out of the ballroom.
Several guests at the dinner, including leaders across the political spectrum, journalists and other invitees, ducked under the table, apparently as a reflex reaction.
Putting up a brave face, President Trump later announced on Truth Social that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom is all that I heard, and many guests ducked under the table,” a C-SPAN reporter at the dinner said.
Hours later, Trump addressed a press conference at the White House and announced that the security personnel had captured one person who hails from California.
“I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray going down. I've heard that many times. It was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. He (the attacker) hadn't reached the area at all. They really got him,” Trump told reporters, recalling the incident.
Trump said one security officer was shot at but saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Several protestors had lined up on the road outside the hotel, raising slogans against the Trump administration and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A CNN reporter who was outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton said he saw a gunman opening fire just a few feet away. He was among the dozens of attendees who took cover as law enforcement swarmed the venue.
The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California.
Asked how Saturday’s incident impacts him as the US president, Trump told reporters he is in a dangerous job but that he is no “basket case.”
“I like not to think about it. I lead a pretty normal life, considering, you know, it’s a dangerous life. I think I handle it as well as it can be handled,” Trump said.
Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years – first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
“I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives...everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd,” he said.
“We had some great work done by law enforcement, but in light of this evening's events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said.
