Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge's US Visit Denied: A Clash Over Investment and Political Bias?

Priyank Kharge, a Karnataka Minister and son of Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, expressed frustration over the denial of clearance for an official visit to the US, aimed at attracting investments, highlighting a perceived political bias against Opposition-ruled states by the Central Government.

Kharge emphasized Karnataka's leading role in IT, BT, and electronics sectors, questioning how the Prime Minister's vision of a $10 trillion economy could be achieved without state-level international engagement, especially when other delegations from different states were approved.

The denial of his delegation's visit contrasts with the Central Government's promotion of initiatives like the National Quantum Mission and AI mission, suggesting a discrepancy between national rhetoric and state-level actions, potentially undermining Karnataka's global competitiveness against countries like Vietnam and Indonesia.