Pioneer in short

Mann appears before Akal Takht

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appeared before the Akal Takht secretariat on Thursday after being summoned over his alleged remarks on Sikh traditions and tenets. Before presenting himself, Mann offered prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Speaking to reporters later, Mann said he had submitted his clarification to acting Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. The response would be examined in detail before any directions are issued, he said. Mann added that he appeared as a devout Sikh and would abide by any directive of the Akal Takht. Mann was summoned on January 5 for allegedly making comments on Guru ki Golak and for “objectionable activities” involving images of Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He dismissed videos cited by the jathedar as fake or AI-generated, saying they could be verified by forensic labs. Ahead of the appearance, Mann said a false narrative was being spread on social media that he was challenging the Akal Takht’s authority. He reiterated that the Akal Takht was supreme and that he would never defy it. The jathedar alleged Mann showed an “anti-Sikh mentality” and made objectionable remarks on dasvand.  

EU chiefs to visit INdia on R-Day

European Union leaders Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will attend India’s 77th Republic Day as chief guests from January 25-27. The leaders will co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27, during which both sides are expected to finalise a long-awaited free trade agreement. Bilateral trade in goods between India and the EU reached $135 billion in 2023-24, and the pact is expected to deepen economic ties. Beyond trade, the summit will unveil a defence framework pact and adopt a new strategic agenda covering five key areas: security and defence, connectivity and global issues, prosperity, sustainability, and technology and innovation. Defence cooperation will focus on maritime security, cyber defence, and counterterrorism.

Athletes die by suicide in Kerala

Two teenage girl athletes, both staying at a SAI hostel, were found dead in one of their rooms on Thursday in an apparent suicide pact, the police said. The deceased were identified as Sandra A (18) of Chaliyam Kozhikode district and Vyshnavi V(15) of Muthakkal Thiruvananthapuram district. According to police, Sandra was an athletics trainee studying in Class 12, while Vyshnavi was a kabaddi player and a Class 10 student. The incident came to light around 5am when fellow hostel inmates noticed that the duo had not reported for the morning training session. Police said Vyshnavi was staying in a different room but had spent Wednesday night in Sandra’s room. Both were seen by other hostel inmates before 12.30am, police added.