Fourth AAP Leader Blocked From Foreign Visit In Punjab, Political Row Erupts
Last year, the Centre denied political clearance to CM Bhagwant Mann also for a visit to Paris to attend the Indian hockey team’s Olympic quarterfinal.
Published : August 1, 2025 at 4:57 PM IST
Chandigarh: Political tension erupted in Punjab after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied clearance to Punjab Power and Public Works Department Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO for his scheduled visit to the United States. This also triggered a war of words between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP.
Singh was invited to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts, from August 4 to 6. The summit is regarded as one of the world’s largest gatherings of legislative leaders, staff experts, and policymakers.
However, he didn’t get the go-ahead from the MEA, citing security reasons, making him the fourth AAP minister or senior functionary from Punjab to be refused permission for foreign travel by the Centre.
“The summit would have been a valuable learning experience and a chance to engage with legislators and policy innovators from around the world. It could have helped bring back progressive ideas for the benefit of Punjab. This decision by the Centre shows that the BJP hates Punjab and Punjabis,” Singh said, responding to the development.
AAP Punjab spokesperson Neel Garg also criticised the Centre’s decision. “Why is the Modi government afraid of @AAPPunjab leaders going abroad?” he posted on X.
“CM Mann blocked, Speaker Sandhwan blocked, Minister Aman Arora, now Harbhajan Singh ETO blocked. Four AAP leaders denied political clearance. Is foreign diplomacy now @BJP4India’s monopoly? Is this an attack on India’s federal structure?”
🚫 भाजपा की केंद्र सरकार को पंजाब और पंजाबी संस्कृति से नफरत है!
— Neel Garg (@GargNeel) August 1, 2025
✅ पहले CM भगवंत मान
✅ फिर स्पीकर कुलतार संधवां
✅ फिर मंत्री अमन अरोड़ा
✅ अब मंत्री हरभजन सिंह ETO — सभी को रोका गया!
👉 हरभजन सिंह ETO को बोस्टन 🇺🇸 में #NCSL पर पंजाब का मॉडल दिखाना था।
लेकिन @BJP4India डर गई…
Earlier, the Centre denied political clearance to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for a visit to Paris to attend the Indian hockey team’s Olympic quarterfinal last year.
In 2023, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was also denied permission to participate in a legislative conference in the US. Similarly, the Renewable Energy and Governance Reforms Minister, Aman Arora, was denied clearance for a study tour in Europe in 2022.
Responding to the criticism, Punjab BJP spokesperson Anil Sareen said, “It is an administrative matter, not a political one. AAP leaders should refrain from politicising it and instead consult the MEA for the reasons behind the decision.”
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