1 week ago
MEA Denies US Visit Clearance, Sparking Telangana Political Clash
India’s foreign ministry did not allow Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to travel to the United States for a planned programme.
The ministry said the programme was not suitable for his office and the purpose of the trip.
It did allow him to visit the United Kingdom.
The chief minister said the decision was politically motivated.
He said he wanted to work with universities such as Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, and Virginia Tech.
His goal was to improve education and skills in Hyderabad.
The BRS party criticized him and raised allegations about an earlier business agreement in the United States.
Reddy’s office said he would return to Hyderabad from London instead of continuing to Boston.
The Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance for Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s proposed United States visit.
The MEA said the proposed programme was not appropriate to the office held and the purpose of the visit.
BRS leader Manne Krishank called the denial a diplomatic embarrassment and accused Reddy of corruption and misuse of office.
Krishank linked the criticism to an alleged ₹1,000 crore MoU with Swachh Bio during Reddy’s previous US visit.
Reddy said the trip was intended to build partnerships with global universities, while his office confirmed he would return from London on August 23.
- Who
- Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, the Ministry of External Affairs, and BRS leader Manne Krishank.
- What
- Political clearance was denied for Reddy’s proposed United States visit, while clearance was granted for his United Kingdom visit.
- Where
- The proposed trip involved the United States and United Kingdom, with Reddy returning to Hyderabad from London.
- When
- The MEA clarification was issued on Friday; Reddy’s office said he would return to Hyderabad on August 23.
- Why
- The MEA said the proposed US programme was not appropriate to the office held and the purpose of the visit; Reddy said the denial was politically motivated.
BRS Criticism
Government and Chief Minister’s Response
Reason for the denied visit
BRS Criticism
BRS leader Manne Krishank said the denial raised serious questions about the nature of Reddy’s proposed US engagements and demanded clarification from the Centre and the chief minister.
Government and Chief Minister’s Response
The MEA said the proposed programme was not appropriate to the office held and the purpose of the visit, without providing further details in the statement. Reddy called the denial politically motivated.
Purpose of the US programme
BRS Criticism
BRS questioned the integrity of the proposed trip and connected it to allegations involving Reddy’s earlier US visit.
Government and Chief Minister’s Response
Reddy said the trip was intended to partner with Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, and Virginia Tech to advance education and skill-building initiatives in Hyderabad under the New Education Policy.
Earlier Swachh Bio agreement
BRS Criticism
Krishank alleged that Reddy’s previous US visit included a ₹1,000 crore MoU with Swachh Bio, a company he described as newly formed, without employees, and owned by Reddy’s brother. He characterized the alleged deal as corruption, nepotism, and misuse of office.
Government and Chief Minister’s Response
The article reports these claims as allegations by BRS and does not provide a response from Reddy or Swachh Bio addressing them.
Key facts
- Denied clearance
- The MEA did not grant political clearance for Revanth Reddy’s proposed US visit.
- MEA explanation
- The ministry said the programme was not appropriate to the office held and the purpose of the visit.
- UK visit
- Political clearance was granted for Reddy’s visit to the United Kingdom.
- Stated purpose
- Reddy said the US trip aimed to build partnerships with global universities for education and skill-building initiatives in Hyderabad.
- Previous MoU allegation
- BRS alleged that Reddy signed a ₹1,000 crore MoU with Swachh Bio during a previous US visit.
- BRS allegation
- Manne Krishank alleged that Swachh Bio was newly formed, had no employees, and was owned by Reddy’s brother; these claims were presented as allegations.
- Changed itinerary
- The Telangana Chief Minister’s Office said Reddy would return to Hyderabad from London on August 23 rather than travel to Boston.
Quotes
Randhir Jaiswal
Spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs
“Let me say that the visits of Chief Ministers, as with other dignitaries, are assessed by the Ministry of External Affairs 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 regarding the United States, that was not so, and therefore the clearance was not given.”
republicworld.com
“Is this not corruption? Is this not misuse of office? What kind of family business is Revanth Reddy running in the USA? Is this some sort of hawala business? Revanth Reddy has to answer to the people of Telangana.”
republicworld.com
Sources
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