Bhagwant Mann denied permission to visit Japan, Pannu says security reasons behind denial
Ravi Jakhu/Babushahi Network
Chandigarh, October 1, 2026:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been denied political clearance by the Centre for his proposed visit to Japan to cheer the Indian men’s hockey team in the Asian Games semi-final on October 1.
AAP General Secretary and Spokesman Baltej Pannu has said that Centre has informed the state government that security reasons were the reason behind denial of permission.
Centre has conveyed to the Punjab government that ensuring the safety of a visiting Chief Minister at a major international sporting event posed a challenge.
It is worth mentioning here that Mann was invited by the Asian Hockey Federation 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 fly to Japan on Wednesday.