Priyank Kharge Gets Foreign Ministry Clearance For US Travel After Denial

Priyank Kharge, the Karnataka Minister, was scheduled to visit the US from June 14 to June 27, but was initially denied the clearance.

New Delhi:

Congress leader Priyank Kharge on Saturday said he has received the Centre's nod to travel to the United States, two days after he wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking clarity on why the clearance for his official visit was denied.

Mr Kharge, the Karnataka Minister, was scheduled to visit the US from June 14 to June 27 to lead delegations to the Boston Bio 2025 and this year's Design Automation Conference in San Francisco. Mr Kharge, the son of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, was in France when he was denied clearance.

In a post on X, he said the Ministry of External Affairs has taken a "U-turn" and revoked its earlier decision and granted him a clearance for his visit.

Mr Kharge said he had sought permission on May 15 and asserted that he received the "No Objection clearance" on June 19, shortly after he addressed a press conference, questioning the basis of the denial and raising concerns about possible "political interference".

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