Centre clears Punjab CM Mann’s Europe visit after cancellation
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, February 13, 2026: : A fresh round of friction has surfaced between the Punjab government and the Centre over Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s proposed visit to the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, after political clearance from the Union government arrived only after the tour had been cancelled.
The Chief Minister and his 25-member delegation were scheduled to depart late Saturday night for the official visit. However, with the mandatory “political clearance” from the Ministry of External Affairs not received before departure, the Punjab government was compelled to call off the trip.
In a striking development, the Ministry granted approval a few days later—by which time the visit had already been scrapped and all scheduled meetings abroad had been formally cancelled.
Punjab Government’s Stand
Sources in the state government said the delay has caused significant loss to Punjab, as key meetings with prospective investors were cancelled at short notice. Officials maintained that the belated clearance now holds no practical value.
The government has made it clear that no official representative will undertake the foreign visit at this stage, asserting that the opportunity window for the planned engagements has already passed.