In yet another instance of the Centre denying international travel clearance to Punjab’s Ministers, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refused permission to Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian to visit the US for a crucial dairy development initiative.
Khudian, along with Animal Husbandry Principal Secretary Rahul Bhandari and Director Dr GS Bedi, was scheduled to travel to Wisconsin from March 29 to April 6 to visit the laboratory of ABS Global, a leading firm in cattle genetics. The objective of the visit was to finalize an agreement for obtaining sexed semen for Holstein Friesian (HF) cows, which are widely preferred by Punjab’s dairy farmers for their high milk yield — up to 81 litres per day.
Sources confirmed that the Punjab Government had sought approval from the MEA earlier this month. However, after a week, the Ministry responded, stating that “clearance cannot be given”. The trip’s expenses were to be covered by the Punjab Livestock Development Board.
A senior government official expressed disappointment, stating that Punjab has been negotiating with ABS Global to secure a steady supply of sexed semen. “Currently, artificial insemination is used for 30 lakh cows in Punjab, but only 1.5-1.75 lakh cows receive sexed semen. To boost dairy development, we need at least five lakh vials of sexed semen annually. ABS Global was also in talks to establish a laboratory in Punjab. This agreement was crucial, but now it will be delayed,” he said.
This is not the first time that an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Minister has been denied political clearance by the Centre. In 2023, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was refused permission to attend the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, with the Centre arguing that the visit was not related to Punjab’s development.
Similarly, in 2022, New and Renewable Energy Minister Aman Arora was denied clearance for a proposed visit to Germany and Belgium to explore solar energy collaborations. That same year, Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was also barred from traveling to the US for a parliamentary study program in Kentucky.
