Bengaluru, June 19 (UNI) A political row erupted on Thursday after Karnataka IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge criticised the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for allegedly denying him clearance for an official visit to the United States, prompting a sharp rebuttal from senior BJP leader CT Ravi who accused Kharge of politicising the issue and misrepresenting facts.

Speaking at a public event earlier in the day, Kharge questioned the Centre’s commitment to global investor engagement. “When we say we are the fourth largest technology cluster in the world, will people say Karnataka or India? India only, right? So we must attract the right investors and create more jobs — not just for Karnataka, but for the entire country,” he said.

Kharge further targeted the MEA for allegedly blocking his proposed US visit, stating, “We have to ask the MEA why they have rejected my clearance.” He suggested that such actions damage India’s image as a unified investment destination and send confusing signals to global stakeholders.

Reacting strongly to Kharge’s comments, CT Ravi, former minister and BJP national general secretary, said, “Issuing visas is not the job of the Ministry of External Affairs — it is the United States that grants visas. As for who was denied permission and why, we don’t know.”

He accused the Congress leader of politicising a procedural issue. “Some people have a habit of dragging politics into everything. Even junior Kharge is no less,” Ravi quipped.

The exchange underlines growing tensions between the Congress-led Karnataka government and the BJP-led Centre over foreign policy coordination, especially in matters related to international investor outreach. While the Karnataka government continues to brand Bengaluru as a global innovation capital, issues around protocol, approvals, and central clearances have occasionally sparked controversy.

The MEA has yet to respond officially to the allegations raised by the Karnataka minister.

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