Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after state minister Priyank Kharge announced that the BJP-led central government has denied him permission to travel to the United States. Kharge, a prominent Congress leader and the son of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, has vowed to seek a formal explanation from the Prime Minister's Office for the decision.
Kharge was scheduled to travel to New York to attend and speak at the "Constitution and Unity of India" convention, an event organized by the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC), the party's international arm.
In a statement to the media, a visibly frustrated Kharge questioned the government's reasoning, highlighting that his trip was a private visit for which he was not seeking any government funds.
"I will be writing a letter to the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to seek an explanation," Kharge said. "I want to know for what reason they have rejected it. Was it a political decision? Or are there other reasons? The government must clarify."
The denial has sparked a sharp reaction from the Congress party, which views the move as another instance of the central government obstructing the work of opposition-led state governments. As the Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology in Karnataka, Kharge holds a key portfolio, and the denial of permission for an international speaking engagement is being framed as a politically motivated act.
This incident highlights the ongoing friction between the Centre and several non-BJP state governments, raising questions about protocol, political propriety, and the autonomy of state ministers. The ball is now in the central government's court to provide a reason for blocking the visit, as the opposition prepares to turn the issue into a larger debate on federalism and democratic norms.
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