Centre disallows Punjab minister's Europe trip

September 23, 2022 20:51

Punjab minister Aman Arora/ANI

Punjab minister Aman Arora on Friday said the Centre has denied him political clearance for a Europe visit where he was to go on a knowledge-sharing study tour and said this shows the BJP-led government's "narrow mindset".

Arora was to proceed on a week-long visit from Saturday.

The development comes amid a political slugfest with the BJP, who has been accused of the bid to topple the AAP government in Punjab.

"The BJP-led Centre blames Punjab on stubble burning but they denied clearance when I was to go on a knowledge-sharing tour. To keep Punjab out from participation is a perfect example of the BJP-led government's narrow mindset," Arora told PTI over the phone.

When asked if any reasons has been specified for the denial of clearance, Arora told PTI over the phone, "No reason has been given."

The minister for new and renewable energy sources alleged that the Centre doesn't want that any new technology and come to Punjab or solutions be found to stubble burning issue.

"Sadly, the Union government has denied me permission to visit Germany, Netherlands and Belgium on a knowledge-sharing study tour on green hydrogen being sponsored by the Indo-German Energy Forum to tackle stubble burning and pollution," he earlier tweeted.

According to a state government statement, the Union ministry of new and renewable energy had cleared a list of 13-member delegation, including Aman Arora, on September 14 but the ministry of external affairs has not issued political clearance to the minister. -- PTI

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