
Priyank was told he can't travel to the US two weeks ago
In Priyank's absence, the delegation is being led by Keonics chairman and Congress legislator Sharath Bachegowda, who is currently participating in meetings across the US. Sources in the IT department said the ministry of external affairs (MEA) delayed clearances for the rest of the team as well, only approving some just hours before their scheduled departure. One official revealed that the managing director of Keonics received clearance just 16 hours before his flight.
Speaking to TOI from Paris, where he is attending the Paris Air Show, Priyank said he has not yet received an official explanation from the MEA regarding the denial. "I am yet to receive a clear communication on reasons for denying me permission to travel to the US. Once I return to India, I will share whatever explanation the central govt provides," he said.
Meanwhile, Bachegowda, speaking from New York, admitted Kharge's absence is a huge blow especially during the delegation's engagements.
"We have told companies that the minister could not attend due to prior commitments and time constraints," he said.
Despite the setback, Bachegowda described the US tour as productive. After participating in Bio 2025 in Boston, the six-member delegation held a series of meetings in New York and is now en route to San Francisco for additional interactions with key players in the IT-BT sector. "We have scheduled 25 to 30 meetings with small and large companies to attract investments into Karnataka," he said.
The delegation is expected to return to India by Sunday (June 22).

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Russia Has ‘Lost An Oil Buyer India, Amid Sanctions Pressure: Claims Trump
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump, in an interview, stated that Russia has lost India as an oil client, as he addressed the economic dimension of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to engage in negotiations. While speaking with Fox News, when questioned about the economic factors influencing Putin's approach to talks, Trump highlighted India's role, saying, 'Well, they lost an oil client, so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40% of the oil. China, as you know, is doing a lot… and if I impose secondary sanctions, it would be devastating from their standpoint. If I have to do it, I'll do it; maybe I won't have to,' he remarked during the interview aboard Air Force One. Trump's comments come in the wake of his recent decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian imports, citing New Delhi's ongoing oil trade with Russia. Just days earlier, on 7 August, the US President had announced an additional 25% tariff on India and hinted that further 'secondary sanctions' might follow in relation to the same issue. When asked why India was being singled out for additional sanctions, despite other nations such as China also purchasing Russian oil, Trump responded, 'It's only been eight hours. So let's see what happens. You're going to see a lot more… You're going to see so many secondary sanctions.' He also hinted that US administration could impose "more" similar sanctions on China. On being asked, 'On the Indian penalties, do you have any similar plans to enact more tariffs on China', US President Donald Trump says, "Could happen. Depends on how we do. Could happen." US President Donald Trump last week signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India. According to the order issued by the White House, Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India's imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States. After the order, the total tariff on Indian goods will be 50 per cent. While the initial duty comes into effect on August 7, the additional levy will come into effect after 21 days and will be imposed on all Indian goods imported into the US, except for goods already in transit or those meeting specific exemptions. Following this announcement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in its response, termed the US's move as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable", declaring that New Delhi will take "all actions necessary to protect its national interests." In an official statement, the MEA said, "The United States has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India." "It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," the statement added. "We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," the MEA stressed.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Russia lost an oil client, which is India': What Donald Trump said before meet with Putin; ‘secondary sanctions would be devastating…'
US President Donald Trump believes that his 25% additional tariffs on India for its Russian crude trade made Russia lose a major oil client. Ahead of his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said that similar sanctions on China would be 'devastating' for Russia. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Earlier today, Trump described his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska as "very productive." However, he noted that some important issues are still unresolved, and no formal agreement has been made yet. Ahead of the meeting with Putin, Trump told Fox News that Russia has lost India as an oil customer while discussing the economic implications of Putin engaging in negotiations. When questioned about the economic aspects of Putin's talks, Trump highlighted India's involvement, saying, "Well, they lost an oil client so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40% of the oil, China as you know is doing a if I did secondary sanctions, it would be devastating from their standpoint. If I have to do it, I'll do it, maybe I won't have to do it," Trump said during the interview on Air Force One ahead of his talks with Putin. Trump's remarks came after his recent decision to implement a 50% tariff on India's exports to the US, citing India's oil trade with Russia as the reason. A few days earlier, on August 7, the US President had announced an additional 25% tariff on India and suggested that further "secondary sanctions" might be imposed related to the same issue. When questioned about why India was being targeted for additional sanctions when other countries, like China, are also purchasing Russian oil, Trump had responded, "You're going to see a lot going to see so much secondary sanctions." He had also suggested that the US administration might impose similar sanctions on China. When asked about potential tariffs on China similar to those on India, Trump replied, "Could happen. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Depends on how we do. Could happen." Also Read | 50% tariffs and India's reaction Last week, Trump signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on imports from India. The White House order cited national security and foreign policy concerns, along with other trade laws, stating that India's imports of Russian oil pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States. Following the order, the total tariff on Indian goods will rise to 50 percent. The initial duty will be implemented on August 7, with an additional levy taking effect 21 days later. This additional charge will apply to all Indian goods imported into the US, except for those already in transit or those that qualify for specific exemptions. In response to this announcement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the US's decision as "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable," and stated that New Delhi will take "all necessary actions to safeguard its national interests." Also Read | The MEA's official statement noted, "Recently, the United States has targeted India's oil imports from Russia. We have already clarified our stance on these matters, emphasizing that our imports are driven by market factors and aim to ensure the energy security of India's 1.4 billion people." The statement further expressed, "It is highly regrettable that the US has chosen to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that many other countries are also undertaking in their own national interest. We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable. India will take all necessary actions to protect its national interests," the MEA emphasized.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
"Russia lost an oil client, which is India," says Trump on sanctions threat
Donald Trump spoke about Russia's economy. He mentioned India's reduced oil imports from Russia. Trump considered imposing secondary sanctions. This followed a 50% tariff on Indian imports. The US cited India's oil trade with Russia as a concern. India's Ministry of External Affairs called the US action unfair. India stated it would protect its national interests. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Washington: US President Donald Trump , in an interview with Fox News, said that Russia lost India as an oil client while discussing the economic aspect of Russian President Vladimir Putin coming to the table for asked about the economic side of Putin's negotiations, Trump referred to India's role, saying, "Well, they lost an oil client so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40% of the oil, China as you know is doing a If I did secondary sanctions, it would be devastating from their standpoint. If I have to do it, I'll do it, maybe I won't have to do it," during the interview aboard Air Force comments follow his recent decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian imports, citing New Delhi's oil trade with Russia Just days earlier, on August 7, the US President had announced an additional 25 percent tariff against India, and later hinted that more "secondary sanctions" could be imposed in connection with the same being asked, 'Indian officials have said that there are other countries that are buying Russian oil, like China, for instance. Why are you singling India out for these additional sanctions', US President Donald Trump had said, "It's only been 8 hours. So let's see what happens. You're going to see a lot going to see so much secondary sanctions."He also hinted that US administration could impose "more" similar sanctions on being asked, 'On the Indian penalties, do you have any similar plans to enact more tariffs on China', US President Donald Trump says, "Could happen. Depends on how we do. Could happen."US President Donald Trump last week signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from to the order issued by the White House, Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India's imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United the order, the total tariff on Indian goods will be 50 per cent. While the initial duty comes into effect on August 7, the additional levy will come into effect after 21 days and will be imposed on all Indian goods imported into the US, except for goods already in transit or those meeting specific this announcement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in its response, termed the US's move as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable", declaring that New Delhi will take "all actions necessary to protect its national interests."In an official statement, the MEA said, "The United States has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India.""It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," the statement added. "We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," the MEA stressed.