Karnataka Minister Questions MEA's Reversal on US Visit Clearance

Karnataka's IT Minister Priyank Kharge has publicly questioned the Ministry of External Affairs regarding its initial denial of his clearance for a US visit aimed at attracting investments. After significant media coverage, the MEA reversed its decision, prompting Kharge to raise concerns about the timing and motives behind the clearance. He emphasized the importance of Karnataka's role in realizing national initiatives while highlighting similar issues faced by ministers from other southern states. This situation has sparked discussions about political interference and accountability within the central government.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 22, 2025, 13:49 IST

Minister's Concerns Over Clearance Denial

Karnataka's Minister for Information Technology, Priyank Kharge, expressed his frustration on Saturday regarding the Ministry of External Affairs' initial refusal to grant him clearance for an official trip to the United States. He criticized the ministry for not providing any explanation for the denial and questioned the sudden change in their decision.

Kharge had requested permission to travel to the US from June 14 to June 27 to attract investments for Karnataka. He claimed that the ministry's initial rejection was made without justification and indicated his intention to seek clarification from them.

“In a surprising turn, the Ministry of External Affairs has now decided to reverse its earlier decision and has granted me clearance for my official visit to the United States,” Kharge stated. He noted that he had submitted his request on May 15 to represent Karnataka at various international forums and engage in over 25 meetings with businesses and educational institutions.

His application was denied on June 4, but two days later, a new application for a delegation—excluding his name—was approved on June 11. On June 12, he submitted the name of Sharath Bachegowda, chairperson of the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited, which received clearance by June 14.

“My initial application was denied without any formal explanation,” he remarked. “On June 19, I held a press conference detailing the timeline of events, questioning the rationale behind the denial, and expressing concerns about potential political interference.”

Kharge highlighted that the issue received significant media attention, and by the evening of June 19, the Ministry of External Affairs had revoked its previous denial, issuing a No Objection clearance. “This occurred 36 days after my original request, 15 days post-denial, and just 5 days before my intended departure,” he noted on social media.

He emphasized that while the central government promotes initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Digital India', the actual efforts to fulfill these goals are taking place in Karnataka. “The Centre formulates the vision, but when we work to attract investments, generate employment, and establish India as a global leader, they hinder our progress,” he added.

Additionally, Kharge mentioned that ministers from other southern states, including Telangana and Tamil Nadu, have also faced similar denials for leading investment-seeking delegations.