Karnataka's Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology, Priyank Kharge, faced an initial denial of travel clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for a scheduled trip to the United States. The intended visit, planned from June 14 to 27, revolved around participation in two significant international events: the BIO International Convention in Boston and the Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Francisco.
Kharge was slated to lead a delegation to the U.S. to engage with multinational corporations and attract investment to Karnataka. However, the MEA's initial denial forced him to cut short his trip and return to Bengaluru from Paris, where he was attending the Paris Air Show.
According to sources within the IT department, the MEA also delayed clearances for the rest of the team, with some approvals arriving just hours before the scheduled departure. One official noted that the managing director of Keonics received clearance only 16 hours before their flight.
Kharge has criticized the central government's decision, stating that it seemed like an attempt to undermine Karnataka's growing prominence. He emphasized that the purpose of his visit was not political, but to foster investment and collaboration, which would ultimately benefit both the state and the central government. "People in the USA have no time to listen to our politics. We are going there to invite them to invest in Karnataka," Kharge asserted.
Following the denial, Kharge has formally requested a clarification from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding the reasons behind the denial of political clearance. In a letter dated June 19, Kharge expressed his sense of responsibility to the people of Karnataka, emphasizing that the visit aimed to strengthen collaborations, attract investments, and create employment opportunities. He also pointed out that denying a Cabinet Minister, especially one overseeing a major technology hub, the ability to perform official duties without a clear explanation raises serious concerns and undermines cooperative federalism. He also noted that these trips align with national priorities and the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Kharge also highlighted a perceived pattern in the clearance process. He noted that after his initial request was denied, he submitted the same itinerary without his name, and it was subsequently approved. A similar request with Sharath Bachegowda, the chairman of Keonics, was also approved shortly after being proposed. This led Kharge to question whether he was being specifically targeted.
In Kharge's absence, the delegation is being led by Keonics chairman and Congress legislator Sharath Bachegowda, who is currently participating in meetings across the US. Despite the setback, Bachegowda described the US tour as productive, with a series of meetings scheduled with companies to attract investments into Karnataka. The delegation is expected to return to India by Sunday, June 22.
