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Priyank Kharge was allegedly denied clearance to travel to the US, where he was supposed to attend two events. Kharge said he will seek a response from the government.
Karnataka Information Minister Priyank Kharge. (Priyank Kharge/X)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded to Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge’s claim over being denied clearances by the central government to travel to the United States, saying there was no clarity about the level at which his clearance was denied.
BJP spokesperson Prashanth GS downplayed the row and said he would not comment on the matter till the Ministry of External Affairs officially explained why Kharge’s permission had been denied, adding that the minister is himself unaware of why he was not allowed to visit the US.
Priyank Kharge was slated to lead the state’s delegations at the prestigious BIO International Convention in Boston and the Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Francisco. Sources close to the development said other members of the delegation, including senior officers, received their clearances, except Kharge.
“I don’t think there is clarity about the level at which clearance was denied. Mr Kharge himself is not aware… which is what his official statement is also. Let’s await details from the government to find out why it was denied… whether at government level or if there was something else,” Prashanth told NDTV.
Meanwhile, Kharge addressed the situation, stating, “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.”
‘Did We Deny Clearance To Rahul Gandhi’
When asked about several reported instances of opposition leaders like Arvind Kejriwal denied permission for official visits, the BJP spokesperson pointed out that opposition leaders were invited to delegations in foreign countries to spread the word about India’s anti-terror stance after Operation Sindoor.
Prashanth also highlighted that the central government continues to allow Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to visit foreign countries despite him “defaming India” on each trip.
“We are not averse to opposition leaders visiting foreign countries on an official basis. We sent opposition leaders to other countries after Op Sindoor. We know also how often Rahul Gandhi goes and defames India… but has the government ever denied him clearance?” he said. “Even now Rahul Gandhi is missing and no one knows where he is.”
The clearance row is expected to spark further discussion once Kharge returns to India and formally seeks clarification from the central government.
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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