Chandigarh, Jan. 15 -- The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has refused political clearance to chief minister Bhagwant Mann and industries minister Sanjeev Arora for a proposed visit to the United Kingdom and Israel next month to invite business leaders to invest in Punjab.

Mann was to lead the state delegation comprising his cabinet colleague and senior officers as part of the state government's international outreach efforts in the run-up to the Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit to be held in Mohali from March 13 to 15. The delegation was planning to meet representatives of leading companies as well as other potential investors to promote Punjab and invite them to the summit.

"The central government has denied political clearance...