Aman Arora, a minister for Punjab, said on Friday that the BJP-led government’s “limited worldview” is evident in the Center’s refusal to provide him political clearance for a trip to Europe where he was scheduled to participate in a knowledge-sharing study tour.
Mr. Arora was scheduled to go on a seven-day trip on Saturday. The development takes place amid a political confrontation with the BJP, which has been charged with trying to overthrow the AAP administration in Punjab.
“The BJP-led Center accuses Punjab of burning its sward, yet they refused to permit me to go on a knowledge-sharing trip. Punjab’s exclusion from the competition is a prime illustration of the BJP-led administration’s limited perspective, “Mr. Arora said to PTI by phone.
Mr. Arora told PTI over the phone that “no justification has been offered” when asked whether any explanations for the denial of approval had been supplied. The minister of new and renewable energy sources claimed that neither new technology nor viable answers to a pressing problem should be brought to Punjab by the Center.
In a previous tweet, he said, “Unfortunately, the Union government has refused me permission to travel Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium on a knowledge-sharing research tour on green hydrogen being sponsored by the Indo-German Energy Forum to fight stubble burning and pollution.
Aman Arora was among a 13-member team approved by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on September 14, according to a statement from the state administration. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not issued political clearance to the minister.
Mr. Arora questioned whether the Center “resorted to cheap techniques like refusing political clearance” because it felt “politically so uncomfortable from the Aam Aadmi Party leadership.”
Mr. Arora stated that the Indo-German Forum funded the event, and neither the federal nor the state government was required to cover any costs. Mr. Arora planned to attend from Punjab.
“While the Center cleared other states and delegates who were scheduled to go, only I have been refused the authorization, and political clearance has not been issued,” said Arora.
The planning and development of new and renewable energy resources in the state to fulfill future requirements and guarantee a green future was greatly aided by this knowledge-sharing trip, which took place from September 24 to October 2and a clean environment,” said Arora.
Such “unnecessary involvement” from the Union administration, he said, “would be a threat to the federal system of the country.” The minister asserted that the “BJP’s model of hatred and deceit” has been severely challenged by the popularity of the AAP’s populist initiatives.
