Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s proposed official visit to the Czech Republic and the Netherlands has been cancelled after the Central government kept his political clearance request pending, resulting in no formal approval ahead of the scheduled tour.
This marks the third occasion on which Chief Minister Mann has been unable to obtain political clearance for an overseas visit. Earlier this year, his planned visits to the United Kingdom and Israel were also stalled, while a previous request to travel to France during a major international sporting event was similarly denied.
The latest development has once again brought Centre–State relations into focus. Leaders from the ruling party in Punjab have alleged that opposition-ruled states are being selectively targeted through administrative hurdles. They argue that such decisions limit Punjab’s ability to engage globally on key issues including foreign investment, higher education collaboration, and outreach to the overseas Punjabi community.
According to party sources, the Chief Minister was expected to lead a delegation to Europe to attract investment ahead of an upcoming Investors Summit planned for next month. The cancellation, they claim, could impact Punjab’s international economic engagement at a crucial time.
As per established protocol, chief ministers require prior political clearance from the Central government for any official foreign travel. While reasons for granting or withholding approval are not made public, repeated cancellations have added to political tensions between the Punjab government and the Centre, further intensifying the already charged political atmosphere.
