Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been denied political clearance by the Centre for his proposed visit to Japan to watch and support the Indian men’s hockey team during the Asian Games semi-final on October 1. The Centre cited security concerns related to managing a visiting Chief Minister at a major international sporting event.
Mann had been invited by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to attend the concluding stages of the hockey competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The invitation covered the semi-finals on September 30 and October 1 and the finals on October 2 and 3. He was scheduled to travel to Japan on Wednesday.
Centre cites security concerns for denying clearance
According to a Punjab government functionary quoted in the report, the Centre conveyed that ensuring the safety of a visiting Chief Minister at a major international sporting event could pose challenges. The proposed visit therefore did not receive the required political clearance.
The visit was also linked to Punjab’s preparations for hosting the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5. The AHF had indicated that the Punjab delegation could use the Japan visit to observe arrangements for a major international hockey tournament ahead of the state-hosted event.
Eight Punjab players in India’s Asian Games squad
The proposed visit had added significance for Punjab as eight players from the state’s 20-member Indian men’s hockey squad are participating in the Asian Games. India has reached the men’s hockey semi-finals and is scheduled to face Pakistan on October 1.
Third proposed foreign visit denied clearance
This is the third reported instance in which Mann has not received political clearance for a proposed foreign visit. In August 2024, clearance was not granted for his proposed trip to Paris to watch India’s men’s hockey team at the Olympics. In January 2026, a proposed visit to the UK and Israel for an investment outreach programme was also not cleared and was subsequently cancelled.
Mann has, however, travelled abroad for official engagements, including leading a Punjab delegation to Japan in December 2025 and later visiting South Korea for investment-related programmes.