Karnataka’s minister for information technology and biotechnology, Priyank Kharge, has been denied the necessary clearances by the central government to travel to the United States for two significant events, prompting him to seek a direct explanation upon his return to Bengaluru later in the week. Kharge was slated to lead the state’s delegations at the prestigious Bio 2025 convention in Boston and a prominent design and automation conference in San Francisco. However, sources close to the developments indicate that while other members of the delegation, including senior officers, received their clearances, Kharge’s approval from the ministry of external affairs (MEA) did not come through. The incident occurred while Kharge was in Paris, attending another conference and the renowned aero show. He was reportedly prepared to depart for the US with his team directly from Paris when the travel denial became apparent. He remains in Paris for his ongoing engagement now. Taking to social media platform X, 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.” The refusal of clearance for a state minister to attend international events, particularly those crucial for the IT and BT sectors, raises questions and is expected to spark further discussion once Kharge returns to India and formally seeks clarification from the central government. The reasons behind the denial remain undisclosed.