In a move that has stirred political debate, the Central government has denied permission to Karnataka IT and Bio-Technology Minister Priyank Kharge to travel to the United States, where he was slated to participate in high-profile technology and biotech conferences.
The denial, reportedly made at the last minute, has raised eyebrows across political circles, particularly because Kharge was already on an official international tour representing the state at global innovation platforms.
Scheduled to Attend US Tech Summits
Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, had been in France since June 11, attending technology summits including VivaTech 2025, one of Europe’s leading innovation events, and the Paris Air Show, a crucial platform for aerospace and defence technologies.
After concluding his engagements in France, Kharge was set to travel to the United States to attend the BIO, International Convention in Boston the world’s largest biotech summit followed by the Design Automation Conference in San Francisco, which draws global leaders in electronics design and semiconductor innovation.
However, while members of the Karnataka delegation, including senior bureaucrats, were granted the necessary clearances to proceed to the US, Kharge’s travel permission was withheld, according to sources in the Karnataka government. The reason for the denial remains undisclosed, and no official explanation has been issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) or any relevant central authority.
Kharge Responds Cautiously, Seeks Clarification
Reacting to the incident, Kharge posted a brief statement on X (formerly Twitter) and said “I’m holding back on making any public statements for now. Once I’m back in Bengaluru, I will seek a clear explanation from the Government of India regarding this denial.”
Kharge is expected to return to Bengaluru on Thursday, having concluded his France visit as part of Karnataka’s efforts to attract investment in technology, biotechnology, and aerospace.
BJP Responds: “No Clarity Yet on Clearance Denial”
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pushed back on this narrative. Spokesperson Prashanth G S, speaking to NDTV, said:
“There is no clarity about the level at which clearance was denied. I would not comment till the Ministry of External Affairs explains why permission was withheld. The government has previously allowed opposition leaders to be part of official delegations.”
He added that several opposition MPs had recently been sent abroad under India’s anti-terror global outreach programme post Operation Sindoor, visiting countries like the UK, US, and South Korea.
However, the spokesperson couldn’t resist taking a swipe at the Congress, particularly Rahul Gandhi, saying “We all know how often Rahul Gandhi goes abroad and defames India… But has the government ever denied him clearance? Even now, he is missing, and no one knows where he is.”
Awaiting Government Clarification
As of now, the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversee travel clearances for state ministers, have not issued any statements on why Kharge was denied permission. With Kharge expected to raise the issue formally upon his return, the matter may soon become a political flashpoint between the Congress-led Karnataka government and the BJP-led Centre.
