New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): Congress leader and General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Surjewala, on Saturday hit out at the Union Government after the Ministry of External Affairs denied Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge's request to visit the USA.

Replying to Priyank Kharge's 'X' post where he informed about writing to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking clarification regarding why he was denied clearance from visiting the USA, Surjewala stated that the Union Government is acting out of 'sheer' pettiness and is 'marred with parochialism'.

https://x.com/rssurjewala/status/1936260585920053518

'The Modi Govt is acting out of sheer pettiness and marred by parochialism. The extent of personal revenge seeking is glaringly apparent. Is Karnataka not a part of India? Is Karnataka not a frontline State of the country in terms of Industrial & robust IT development? Isn't Karnataka the second-highest GST contributor in India, with a GST collection of 1,59,563 CR? Is the revenge-seeking targeted against Priyank Kharge personally by the Modi Govt, who, despite being a modernist and an efficient minister, happens to be the son of the Congress President, Sh. Mallikarjun Kharge? Time for GOI to see states as 'contributors to the nation's development', rather than as adversaries! Learn 'co-operative federalism' afresh,' he posted on X.

Earlier on Friday, Karnataka Minister for Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge wrote to the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar seeking clarification over not getting clearance for the visit to the United States.

Sharing a copy of the letter on X, Priyank Kharge stated that the visit aimed to strengthen collaborations, attract investments, and create employment in the state.

'I have written to the Minister of External Affairs, Sri. Jaishankar, seeking clarity on why political clearance for my official visit to the United States was denied. I do so with a deep sense of responsibility to the people of Karnataka, to whom I am duty-bound. The visit was aimed at strengthening collaborations, attracting investments and creating employment opportunities for the state,' he said.

He said that denying a Cabinet Minister the ability to carry out his responsibilities raises serious concerns and called it undermining federalism.

'Denying a Cabinet Minister and the custodian of one of the world's largest technology clusters, the ability to carry out such official responsibilities without explanation, raises serious concerns. It is not only against the interests of the state but also undermines the spirit of cooperative federalism. I hope the Ministry provides a clear written clarification at the earliest,' the Karnataka Minister said. (ANI)