3 min readFeb 7, 2026 10:44 AM IST

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to Netherlands and Czech Republic, scheduled for Saturday midnight, remains uncertain with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) yet to grant the political clearance.

Sources said that after Mann applied for the political clearance 10 days ago, the Centre had conveyed orally to the state government to prepare for the trip. “We applied for the Schengen visa. We got it. But the CM cannot fly until he gets clearance from the MEA. The file seeking clearance for Chief Minister’s travel abroad is sent to Prime Minister’s Office. The clearance is given by the PMO. The tickets have been blocked. He can travel only if the clearance is received. If the clearance is received later in the day on Saturday, then he may not be able to travel,” an official privy to the developments said.

Mann had to lead a delegation of 25 to Europe for a week. “The Indian Embassy in Netherlands has already scheduled meetings with industry honchos for extending invite for investing in Punjab,” a source said. Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora is also scheduled to accompany the delegation. Earlier, in January, the MEA had denied political clearance to Mann to travel to UK and Israel. The CM has, however, not reacted to this denial of permission.

Political clearance is required from MEA for senior political leaders. Mann holds a diplomatic passport, being the CM of a state. The 25, including Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Principal Secretary to CM Ravi Bhagat, and officials of industries and invest Punjab departments, were planning to go to UK and Israel in February to invite industry in these countries to invest in the state. The government is organising an investor’s summit in Punjab in March.

The political clearance was sought well before finalising the itinerary. “The itinerary is prepared only after the clearance. We have prepared the itinerary as we know we will get the clearance. The hotel booking and other requirements are completed.”

Mann had led the delegation to Japan and South Korea from December 1 to 8 and held several meetings with investors in both the countries and invited them for 6th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit scheduled from March 13-15, 2026. For the Japan and South Korea trip, the MEA had given political clearance.

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Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.

Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.

Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.

Special Projects:

Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.

Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.

Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:

1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
“Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill” (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state’s move to block the Centre’s “Viksit Bharat” mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.

“Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January” (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government’s use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.

“Punjab asks ‘VIP teachers’ working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts” (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann’s move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.

2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
“Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab” (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann’s rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.

“AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues” (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.

“Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann” (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM’s critique of the Congress leadership.

3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
“Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement” (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.

“Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh” (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government’s refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.

4. Welfare & Economy
“Punjab government’s plan to add more freebies to ‘atta-dal’ scheme hits funds roadblock” (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state’s flagship food security program.

“Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach” (Dec 2, 2025).

Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab’s political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the “Farmhouse Policy” (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.

X (Twitter): @kanchan99 … Read More

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