Olympics 2024: Centre denies political clearance to Punjab CM Mann to visit France

Chandigarh: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has denied political clearance to a 10-member delegation led by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for a “morale-boosting tour” for Indian athletes participating in the Paris Olympics.

The central government’s denial comes a day ahead of the scheduled date of its visit to France. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wanted to go to Paris to encourage hockey players. The 10-member delegation was scheduled to visit France from August 3 to August 9.

Ten of the total 19 players (including three reserved players) of the Indian hockey team playing in the Paris Olympics are Punjabis. The captain and vice-captaincy of the hockey team is also with the players of Punjab. Bhagwant Mann is the third AAP leader who has been barred by the Centre from travelling abroad. Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal was not allowed to visit Singapore and Gopal Rai was not allowed to go abroad.

According to sources, the central government has cited security reasons for not giving political clearance to the chief minister, who has a Z-plus security umbrella. Though the Centre did not directly say so, it has indicated that Paris has an audience from all over the world and it is not easy to arrange for the chief minister’s security in such a short span of time.

There could be political reasons behind the centre’s refusal to give political clearance as chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s meeting with sportspersons on an international stage has been widely publicised at the international level.