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MEA denies political clearance to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for UK tour

This is not the first time that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been denied political clearance for a foreign trip.

3 min readJan 13, 2026 04:56 PM IST

This is not the first time that Mann has been denied political clearance. (Image: @BhagwantMann/X)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has denied political clearance to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and state Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora, who were to lead a delegation to the UK and Israel in February.

Sources in the government told The Indian Express that the clearance has been denied to Mann, who holds a diplomatic passport, as well as to others, including the CM of a state. Political clearance from the MEA is required for senior political leaders.

“The CM was planning a trip of 7-10 days to these countries. The idea was to invite investors to invest in Punjab on the lines of a similar trip to Japan and South Korea at the year’s end. The reason has not been given. This is what MEA does. It only writes whether the clearance is being given or not,” said a source.

The 25-member delegation, including K A P Sinha, Chief Secretary; Ravi Bhagat, Principal Secretary to CM; and officials of the industries and investment department, was planning to go to the UK and Israel in February to invite them to invest in the state.

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The government is organising an investor’s summit in Punjab in March.

A source said, “As per the protocol, MEA sends the plan to the embassy/high commission of the country where the leaders want to visit. After that, clearance is given based on the response.”

The source said that political clearance is sought well before finalising such itineraries. “The itinerary is prepared only after the clearance. The hotel booking and other requirements are completed. The embassy/high commission usually helps organise meetings with the government of the country and with investors. All that was yet to be done. The dates of the trip were also yet to be finalised,” said the source.

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“However, the clearance has not been given. We cannot do anything now. The CM has no option but to cancel the visit,” he said.

While The Indian Express reached out to MEA, a spokesperson refused to comment on the issue, saying a lot of calculation goes into allowing or denying.

From December 1 to 8 last year, Mann led a delegation to Japan and South Korea, held several meetings with investors in both countries and invited them to the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit scheduled from March 13-15, 2026.

This is not the first time that Mann has been denied political clearance. In August 2024, he was denied permission to travel to Paris to cheer on the Indian hockey team at the Olympic Games.

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He hit out at the Centre for denying him permission. At that time, the Centre stated that Mann was a Z-plus protectee, and that it was not possible to arrange his security on short notice.

In August 2025, Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO was denied permission to go to the US. The minister was scheduled to participate in the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Boston, Massachusetts, US.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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