Centre Denies Clearance for Punjab Chief Minister’s Overseas Visit

The Punjab government says Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has not received approval from India’s Ministry of External Affairs to proceed with a planned overseas visit aimed at attracting foreign investment to the state.

According to officials, Mann was scheduled to travel to England and Israel along with cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora as part of outreach efforts to promote Punjab as an investment destination. The proposed visit was intended to highlight opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture technology, and innovation-led industries.

The Centre has not provided a public explanation for withholding the required clearance. Under existing rules, chief ministers must obtain approval from the Ministry of External Affairs for official foreign travel.

This is not the first time the Punjab chief minister’s international travel plans have stalled. Earlier, a proposed visit to Paris was also denied clearance, drawing criticism from the state government, which has argued that such engagements are important for economic growth and global partnerships.

Opposition parties have raised questions about transparency in the approval process, while the Centre has maintained that foreign travel by state leaders is assessed on administrative and diplomatic considerations.