Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been denied political clearance by the Centre to travel to Paris, where he was scheduled to support the Indian hockey team in their quarterfinal clash on August 4, an official source revealed on Saturday.
Mann, who holds a diplomatic passport, had sought clearance for his visit from August 3 to August 9. The denial reportedly stems from concerns over arranging his Z-Plus security at short notice, as he is a high-profile protectee. The Chief Minister’s Office was informed of the decision on Friday evening.
In a parallel development, Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has also faced a similar denial. Sandhwan was set to travel to Kentucky, USA, to attend a conference of legislative body speakers from August 4 to August 7. He claimed that speakers from opposition-ruled states, including Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, have been similarly denied clearance, while the speaker from Meghalaya received approval.
Bhagwant Mann expressed his disappointment over the decision, stating that he intended to visit Paris to cheer on the Indian hockey team and bolster their morale. Despite the setback, Mann congratulated the Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh over the phone for their historic victory against Australia in the ongoing Olympic Games.
AAP’s Punjab General Secretary Harchand Singh Barsat condemned the Centre’s decision, accusing the BJP-led government of insulting the people of Punjab. Barsat argued that the denial undermines the fundamental rights of a constitutionally elected leader and is a continuation of perceived discrimination against Punjab. He cited previous instances, such as the denial of permission to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a study visit to Singapore and various other grievances related to Punjab’s representation and support.
Sources By Agencies
