Bengaluru/New Delhi: Karnataka’s Minister for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj and IT-BT, Priyank Kharge, has formally written to External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, seeking an official explanation for the denial of political clearance for his proposed official visit to the United States from June 14 to 27, 2025.
In a letter addressed to the Union Minister, Kharge expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) decision to block his trip, which he said was planned to represent the state at two prominent international forums—BIO International Convention in Boston and the Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Francisco.
Kharge stated that the visit was not only aimed at attending the two summits but also included scheduled meetings with top global companies, universities, and institutions to attract investments and explore employment-generating partnerships for Karnataka.
Highlighting Karnataka’s emergence as a tech and innovation powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific region, the minister wrote that the state has established itself as a leader in sectors like information technology, biotechnology, aerospace, defence manufacturing, electronics, and space technology. “This leadership is the result of progressive state-level policies and a proactive ecosystem driven by deep global partnerships,” he noted.
I have written to the Minister of External Affairs, Sri. Jaishankar, seeking clarity on why political clearance for my official visit to the United States was denied. I do so with a deep sense of responsibility to the people of Karnataka, to whom I am duty-bound. The visit was… pic.twitter.com/RkBAsg45Zo
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) June 20, 2025
He added that the absence of ministerial representation at such crucial platforms weakens India’s global engagement and sends the wrong message to international stakeholders. Kharge emphasised that participating in these events aligns with India’s national priorities and directly supports the broader vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Without an official communication from the MEA explaining the reasons behind the denial, it becomes increasingly difficult to plan or decide on future international engagements, especially those that serve national interest,” Kharge said. He expressed concern over the uncertainty such actions introduce in institutional processes.
Urging transparency in such matters, the minister requested the MEA to provide a formal explanation and adopt a more consultative and transparent approach for managing official international engagements in future.
Kharge’s communication comes amidst rising tensions between the BJP-led Centre and the Congress-ruled Karnataka government, with issues related to federal cooperation and administrative coordination gaining renewed attention.
