Priyank Kharge Receives Nod For US Travel, Slams MEA For 'U-Turn' 5 Days After Scheduled Departure

News18

4 hours ago

Priyank Kharge was allegedly denied clearance to travel to the US, accusing the Centre of denying nod without official explanation.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, said he has received the clearance from the central government to travel to the United States, days after he said he was denied the necessary the required clearances.
Kharge was slated to lead the state's delegations at the prestigious BIO International Convention in Boston and the Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Francisco. However, sources close to the developments indicate that while other members of the delegation, including senior officers, received their clearances, Kharge's approval from the ministry of external affairs (MEA) did not come through.
In a post on X, Priyank Kharge said, 'So in a U-turn, the Ministry of External Affairs has now decided to revoke its earlier decision and grant me a clearance for an official visit to the United States."
The Karnataka minister said he had sought permission on May 15 to travel between June 14-27 to represent the state government at two major global forums and over 25 official meetings with top companies, universities and institutions for collaborations and pitch for investments.
So in a U-turn, the Ministry of External Affairs has now decided to revoke its earlier decision and grant me a clearance for an official visit to the United States.I had sought permission on 15 May to travel between 14–27 June to represent the Government of Karnataka at two…
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) June 21, 2025
'My application was denied without any official explanation. On 19 June, I addressed a press conference, laying out the full chronology, questioning the basis of the denial and raising concerns about possible political interference. The matter was widely reported in the media," he added.
However, the MEA revoked its earlier denial and issued a 'No Objection" clearance dated on June 19, which was 36 days after his original application and five days after his scheduled departure. 'The timing raises serious questions: Why was the clearance denied in the first place? Was the previous order revoked to avoid accountability after the matter became public?" he asked.
He also wrote a two-page letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking clarity on why his clearance was revoked. 'Denying a Cabinet Minister and the custodian of one of the world's largest technology clusters, the ability to carry out such official responsibilities without explanation, raises serious concerns. It is not only against the interests of the state but also undermines the spirit of cooperative federalism," he said.
I have written to the Minister of External Affairs, Sri. Jaishankar, seeking clarity on why political clearance for my official visit to the United States was denied. I do so with a deep sense of responsibility to the people of Karnataka, to whom I am duty-bound. The visit was… pic.twitter.com/RkBAsg45Zo — Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) June 20, 2025
Kharge said the absence of ministerial-level representation during an official visit of 'such significance is a lost opportunity to further elevate India's engagement, strengthen confidence among global partners and demonstrate the seriousness with which we approach these sectors".
He highlighted Karnataka's importance of being a technology capital in the Asia-Pacific said the absence of ministerial-level representation during an official visit of 'such significance is a lost opportunity to further elevate India's engagement, strengthen confidence among global partners and demonstrate the seriousness with which we approach these sectors".
There has been no official comment from the Ministry of External Affairs.
First Published:
June 21, 2025, 13:02 IST