1 week ago
Revanth Reddy Challenges Denial of Telangana US Visit Clearance
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy planned to travel from the United Kingdom to the United States.
He wanted to meet universities, sports academies, investors and strategic partners.
He said these meetings could help Telangana attract investment and build its education and sports sectors.
The Ministry of External Affairs allowed his UK visit but did not approve the US part.
The ministry said the US programme did not properly match his office and the stated purpose of the trip.
Reddy disagreed and said the decision was politically unfair to Telangana and the Congress party.
He compared his case with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who was reportedly allowed to visit the US and Canada.
Congress leaders said they would raise the issue in Parliament.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy called the denied US clearance an insult to four crore state residents.
The Ministry of External Affairs approved his United Kingdom travel but denied political clearance for the United States.
The ministry said the proposed US programme was not appropriate to Reddy’s office and stated purpose.
Reddy said the trip aimed to attract investment and promote Telangana as an education and sports hub.
He alleged discrimination compared with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and said Congress leaders would raise the issue in Parliament.
- Who
- Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Union government and Congress leaders; Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was also cited.
- What
- The Union government denied political clearance for Reddy’s proposed US visit while approving his UK travel.
- Where
- The proposed meetings were in Boston and New York, United States; Reddy discussed the issue at a press conference in Hyderabad.
- When
- Reddy discussed the decision on a Monday after returning from the UK; the proposed US itinerary covered August 24–26, with a return to Hyderabad planned for August 30.
- Why
- The Ministry of External Affairs said the proposed US programme was unsuitable for Reddy’s office and its stated purpose, while Reddy alleged political discrimination and obstruction of Telangana’s development efforts.
Telangana Government and Congress
Union Government and Ministry of External Affairs
Reason for denial
Telangana Government and Congress
Reddy said the reference to a political reason showed discrimination against Telangana and the Congress-led state government, potentially hindering investment and development.
Union Government and Ministry of External Affairs
The Ministry of External Affairs said foreign visits by chief ministers are assessed individually and that this proposed US programme was not appropriate to Reddy’s office and stated purpose.
Comparison with Gujarat
Telangana Government and Congress
Reddy questioned why Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was reportedly cleared for an investment-focused visit to the US and Canada while his Telangana-related visit was denied.
Union Government and Ministry of External Affairs
The ministry’s public explanation focused on the suitability of Reddy’s proposed programme and did not announce a general ban on chief ministers visiting the United States.
Federal relations
Telangana Government and Congress
Reddy called the decision dictatorial and contrary to cooperative federalism, saying it insulted Telangana’s people and could damage Centre–state relations.
Union Government and Ministry of External Affairs
The ministry maintained that political clearance depends on the details and purpose of each proposed visit, while noting that Reddy’s UK travel had been approved.
Reported political meetings
Telangana Government and Congress
Reddy said reports about proposed meetings with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and George Soros were speculation and were not included in the official tour details.
Union Government and Ministry of External Affairs
Reports cited by some accounts suggested that the proposed itinerary included meetings with political figures and that this may have contributed to the clearance dispute; the ministry did not publicly identify specific meetings.
Key facts
- Chief minister
- A. Revanth Reddy of Telangana
- Clearance decision
- The Ministry of External Affairs cleared Reddy’s UK visit but denied political clearance for his proposed US visit.
- Official explanation
- The ministry said the US programme was not appropriate to the office held and the stated purpose of the visit.
- Proposed US itinerary
- Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on August 24; Virginia Tech-related meetings in Boston on August 25; and an Indian Overseas Congress event in New York on August 26.
- Stated objectives
- Attract foreign investment, promote Telangana as an education and sports hub, and invite universities and sports academies to the state.
- Related Telangana event
- The Telangana Rising Global Summit was scheduled for December 7–9 in Hyderabad.
- Political response
- Reddy said Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress lawmakers would raise the matter in Parliament.
Quotes
A. Revanth Reddy
Chief Minister of Telangana
“Let me say that the visits of chief ministers, as indeed those of other dignitaries, are assessed by the Ministry of External Affairs in order to accord political clearance. The programme proposed in such cases should be appropriate to the office held and the purpose of the visit. In this particular case, that was not so with respect to the United States. Therefore, the clearance was denied and not given. Incidentally, let me also tell you that clearance was given for his visit to the United ”
wionews.com
“We had informed the MEA about the visit. The CMO had informed the MEA about the purpose of the visit. The objective was to promote Telangana as a sports and investment hub and bring world-class universities to the state. MEA examined the proposal and informed that, for political reason visit was declined,”
wionews.com
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson
Spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs
“Therefore, the clearance was denied and not given. Incidentally, let me also tell you that clearance was given for his visit to the United Kingdom.”
NDTV
Sources
An insult to Telangana
Insult to 4 crore people of Telangana, says CM on denial of permission for US visit
Revanth Reddy Slams Centre Over Denial Of US Visit, Calls It ‘Insult’ To Telangana
Revanth Reddy Slams Centre, Alleges Discrimination against Telangana
'Insult' to 4 crore people of Telangana: Why CM Revanth Reddy's US visit clearance was denied
"Against Federal Cooperatism": Revanth Reddy After Centre's No To US Visit
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