The Central Government has denied clearance to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and State Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora for their proposed visit to the United Kingdom and Israel in February to attract investments, the ruling AAP in Punjab said on Wednesday.
The party claimed that this was not the first time the Centre had denied permission to Chief Minister Mann for an overseas visit.
“Chief Minister Mann and Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora were scheduled to travel to the UK and Israel in February. The delegation was also to include some state government officers. The exact dates would have been finalised after receiving clearance. However, the Centre has denied political clearance to the delegation. No reason has been communicated,” Punjab AAP General Secretary and party media in-charge Baltej Pannu said.
Senior leaders require political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs before travelling abroad.
Chief Minister Mann, who holds a diplomatic passport, was to undertake a week-long visit to the United Kingdom and Israel to attract investment for the state.
In December, he had led a delegation as part of the state government’s outreach programme ahead of the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit, scheduled to be held from March 13 to 15, 2026, in Mohali.
In August 2024, CM Mann had said the Centre had denied political clearance for his proposed visit to Paris to support the Indian hockey team during the Olympic Games. He was scheduled to be in Paris from August 3 to August 9 for the Indian team’s quarterfinal match on August 4.
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