New Delhi, June 16: After denying permission to two Congress Chief Ministers to travel abroad, the government is understood to have turned down of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's plea for a visit to the United States for attending the international Rajasthani sammelan being organised by expatriates from the state there. Gehlot was scheduled to leave for the United States in the first week of July to attend his felicitation function organised by expatriate Rajasthan residents. He was to accompany by two of his cabinet colleagues.

Gehlot was also to receive Rs one crore from expatriate community towards the draught relief in the state besides attending the sammelan. However, informed sources said the Government turned down the request of Gehlot on the pretext that the function was a private affair and that government had no role in that.

As per protocol Chief Ministers and other ministers cannot go abroad without permission of the External Affairs Ministry. Gehlot is the third Chief Minister of a Congress-ruled state who has been denied permission to travel abroad. Earlier, last month Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh was denied permission to go to Vancouver in Canada to attend a Dalit conference.

Before this, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was denied permission to travel to the US to attend a mayor's conference and also to receive an award for implementation of CNG and making Delhi pollution free. Bureau Report