The Ministry of Home Affairs has denied political clearance to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his planned visit to France to support the Indian hockey team at the Paris Olympics, citing security concerns. Mann, who holds a diplomatic passport, had requested permission to travel from August 3 to August 9 to cheer on the team, which was set to play its first quarterfinal on August 4. Notably, a significant number of the Indian hockey team players hail from Punjab, and Mann was keen to show his support in person.
The union government’s decision to deny political clearance stems from the Chief Minister’s Z-Plus security status, which, according to sources in the Punjab government cited by PTI, makes arranging adequate security at short notice impossible. The Hindustan Times, citing a Punjab official who requested anonymity, reported that the MHA deemed it necessary to provide maximum security for Mann due to various threats and therefore denied permission for the visit. The Chief Minister’s Office was informed of the decision on Friday evening.
Mann expressed his disappointment on Saturday after speaking with Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh, congratulating him and the team on their historic win against Australia. Mann revealed his intention to visit Paris to encourage the team during the quarterfinal match on August 4 but was thwarted by the denial of political clearance. He took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his support for the team in a Gurmukhi post, stating, “Talked to hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh on the phone today and cheered him up…We wanted to come to Paris to watch the next competition and boost the morale of the players but the central government did not allow us…We are with you wholeheartedly…All the best for the next competition…”
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab unit vehemently condemned the union government’s decision, deeming it an insult to the people of Punjab and a violation of the fundamental rights of a constitutionally-elected person. AAP Punjab general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat asserted in a statement that by denying permission, the central government had not only insulted the 3 crore people of Punjab but also hurt their sentiments, considering the significant representation of Punjab players on the Indian hockey team. He further alleged that this denial is another instance of discrimination against Punjab.
Barsat pointed out that this incident echoes the Modi government’s previous refusal to allow Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal to visit Singapore to study the education system there. The AAP’s reaction highlights the political tensions and accusations of discrimination that continue to simmer between the central government and the state government of Punjab.
