Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge is seen sitting on Rafale at Paris Air Show | Photo Credit: X
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge denied US trip clearance, says will comment after reaching Bengaluru
In what has come as a shocker, Karnataka Minister for Minister for Electronics, IT/BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge denied clearance to visit the United States to attend two key events.
After the denial he has stated that he will not comment on the matter at this moment and intends to seek an explanation from the Indian government once he returns to Bengaluru.
In response to the denial of travel clearance to the US, Kharge—son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge—shared on X (formerly Twitter), “I am refraining from making any public statements for now. Upon my return to Bengaluru, I will demand a clear explanation from the Government of India regarding this denial.” Kharge was scheduled to lead delegations at the Boston Bio 2025 and the Design Automation Conference in San Francisco this year.
While in Paris, where he attended a conference and an airshow, he had planned to depart for the U.S. with his team. However, the necessary clearances did not come through, and he is now expected to return directly to India.
The Design Automation Conference, described as “The Global Event for Chips to Systems,” is particularly significant for Karnataka, as Bengaluru is the nation’s IT hub, an Kharge oversees the state’s IT ministry. The BIO International Convention is another important event for the biotechnology sector, claiming to represent a global network of over 20,000 industry leaders.
The reason for the clearance denial remains unclear, but this incident could potentially escalate into a new political dispute between the BJP and the Congress.