Delhi says no, won’t clear Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for Olympics

Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 2
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been denied political clearance by the Ministry of External Affairs for his travel to Paris. He was scheduled to be there from August 3 to 9 to root for the hockey team participating in the Olympics.
The Chief Minister’s Office received information regarding the denial of permission to travel late this evening. Talking to The Tribune, Mann said he was spending money from his own pocket to go for the Olympics to root for the hockey players, 10 of whom were from Punjab.

Modi ji alone wants to travel abroad
I felt it was my duty to be there for Punjabi players when they play crucial matches. However, Modi ji alone wants to travel abroad. Bhagwant Mann, Punjab CM

“I thought it was my duty to be there for my Punjabi players when they play the crucial matches. However, Modi ji alone wants to travel abroad. He does not want anyone else to be seen as a representative of the country; that is why permission has been denied to me and another CM of an opposition party,” he said.

19 from Punjab at Oly

Hockey 10

Shooting 6

Athletics 2

Golf 1

Visibly upset, Mann said there were 19 players from Punjab in the Olympic contingent from India. “Ten players in the hockey team are from Punjab. They have created history today by winning a match against Australia in the Olympics after 52 years. My officers were told that they applied for permission late. However, it was only after the hockey team cleared initial matches that we could decide to go to cheer them on,” he said, adding that the Government of India was blatant in denying him permission, even though he had a diplomatic passport.
Mann said the BJP-led government had earlier denied permission to AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to travel to Singapore. “Gopal Rai, too, was denied permission to travel to the US last year, and he had to move court. Do they (referring to the BJP) want us to move court for everything,” he asked.
Other than Mann’s wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann, two aides of the CM, his five security officers, 10 senior officers from the CMO, Sports and Invest Punjab departments, were to accompany the CM. The state government had also tied up with some French companies dealing in defence equipment and glass manufacturing, to hold meetings and urge them to come and invest in the state.
Though no reason has been assigned for the denial of permission, sources in Chandigarh said it was because Mann was a Z plus security protectee. The Government of India was concerned about his security due to which the permission was denied.