Karnataka Minister for IT/BT and Rural Development, Priyank Kharge, has strongly criticised the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for initially denying him clearance for an official visit to the United States — only to later reverse the decision after the matter gained public traction. The minister termed the move a politically motivated “U-turn” and questioned the timing of the approval.
Bengaluru: In a sharp rebuke directed at the Ministry of External Affairs, Karnataka Cabinet Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday accused the Centre of delaying and politicising the clearance process for his official US visit. Kharge alleged that the MEA initially rejected his request without any explanation, only to issue a belated approval after his concerns went public.
Kharge, who also holds the Electronics, IT/BT, and Rural Development portfolios, had sought permission on May 15 to travel between June 14 and 27. His visit aimed to represent Karnataka at two global technology forums and hold over 25 meetings with top tech companies, universities, and potential investors.
According to Kharge, the MEA rejected his application on June 4, approved a modified request without him on June 11, and cleared a further reduced delegation on June 14. However, it was only after a press conference on June 19, where Kharge publicly raised questions about the denial, that the MEA reversed its decision and granted him No Objection Clearance the same evening.
“36 days after my original application, 15 days after the official denial, and 5 days after my scheduled departure — they finally cleared it. What’s the point now?” Kharge asked in a post on social media platform ‘X’.
Kharge accused the MEA of acting under political pressure and avoiding transparency. “Was the previous order revoked just to escape accountability after the issue became public?” he questioned.
Taking a broader swipe at the Modi government’s flagship initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’, and ‘India AI Mission’, Kharge said, “They coin slogans, but block those actually working to bring investment, create jobs, and position India globally.”
The minister also referred to PM Modi’s recent “Make India Great Again” pitch, questioning its sincerity: “What does it mean when a state driving India’s tech and innovation engine is denied the support it needs to lead?”
Kharge has called for an official explanation from the MEA, asserting that Karnataka deserves transparency and respect as it continues to play a leading role in India’s digital growth.
