Chandigarh, Jan 14: A planned diplomatic push to attract global industry to Punjab has hit a roadblock after the Centre denied political clearance for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to the United Kingdom and Israel. The Ministry of External Affairs withheld the required permission for the state delegation, which was slated to travel in February to drum up support for the upcoming 2026 Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit.
The AAP leadership on Wednesday expressed frustration over the move, claiming the central government is repeatedly obstructing the Chief Minister’s official duties abroad. The delegation, led by Mann and Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora, aimed to engage with international stakeholders to bolster the state’s industrial sector.
“Chief Minister Mann and Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora were to travel to the UK and Israel in February. The delegation was also supposed to comprise some state government officers,” Baltej Pannu, Punjab AAP General Secretary, directly said regarding the stalled plans.
The rejection follows a pattern of travel denials cited by the state government. In late 2024, the Chief Minister was also prevented from traveling to France for the Olympic Games, despite his intentions to encourage the national hockey squad.
The denial comes at a sensitive time as the state government prepares for its flagship investment summit in March. By seeking foreign partnerships in the UK and Israel, the Punjab government hoped to finalize several key projects before the Mohali event, but those plans now remain on hold pending federal oversight.
