Amid reports that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been invited to attend an international Punjabi conference in Lahore on November 27, India on Friday reiterated that visits by dignitaries abroad must conform to national foreign policy.
Responding to questions about whether the Centre would permit Mann to travel to Pakistan, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to India’s position on Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack last year.
“When it comes to relations with foreign countries, we have a national policy and expect everybody to abide by it. As far as political clearances for dignitaries visiting abroad is concerned, an assessment is made by this Ministry, in line with its overall policy and processed accordingly,” Jaiswal said at his briefing.
According to media reports, the Punjab government is examining whether a formal invitation will be extended by the Pakistan government.
The invitation, dated October 25, was reportedly issued by Punjabi Parchar, a Pakistani social and cultural organisation, with poet Baba Najmi among its signatories.
The matter was raised in the Punjab Assembly on October 23, when Mann reportedly expressed his desire to attend the conference and visit historic gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib.
Referring to previous objections from the Centre to his foreign visits, Mann reportedly said, “They (the union Government) do not even let me go to France or Japan. How will they let me go to Pakistan?”
The MEA did not indicate whether political clearance for the proposed visit had been granted.
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