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Thenewsdose.com
Chandigarh,July 31,UPDATED:8.30PM
The Union Government has declined to grant political clearance to Punjab Power and Public Works Department Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO for his proposed visit to the United States, marking the fourth such denial for a minister or senior functionary from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government.
Planned US Visit
Harbhajan Singh ETO was scheduled to attend the prestigious National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit 2025, to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, from August 4 to 6. Considered one of the largest gatherings of legislative leaders, staff experts, and policy innovators, the summit serves as a global platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and discussions on best practices in governance.
The Punjab government reportedly received the official communication declining permission on Thursday. The invitation to Minister ETO had been jointly extended by the NCSL and the National Legislators’ Conference Bharat (NLC Bharat). In a press statement issued earlier, the Punjab government said the invitation recognised Harbhajan Singh’s “notable contributions to legislative governance and public administration in Punjab.”
Commenting on the opportunity before the denial, Harbhajan Singh ETO had said, “The summit would have provided a valuable opportunity to connect with legislative peers and policy innovators across the globe, enabling me to bring back innovative ideas and best practices for Punjab.”
Repeated Denials of Foreign Travel
This is the fourth time that a minister or top leader from Punjab’s AAP government has been denied approval for an overseas visit.
-In 2024, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was refused clearance for a visit to Paris during the Olympics, where he planned to witness a hockey match.
-Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was denied permission to visit Kentucky, USA.
-In 2022, New and Renewable Energy Minister Aman Arora was refused clearance for a European trip aimed at exploring developments in hydrogen energy.
These repeated denials have sparked questions within political circles about the Centre’s stance toward foreign visits by AAP ministers, particularly given that such conferences and study tours are often viewed as opportunities to learn from global best practices in governance.
The Summit’s Significance
The NCSL Legislative Summit is widely regarded as one of the most influential events in the legislative ecosystem, drawing thousands of lawmakers and policy experts from across the world. For states such as Punjab, participation offers exposure to legislative innovations and administrative reforms. However, with political clearance once again withheld, Punjab will not have official representation at this year’s summit. The state government has not yet commented on whether it plans to seek a review of the decision or nominate alternative representation.
