Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Telangana BJP Demands Answers Over Reddy-Mamdani Meeting Plan
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy planned to visit the United States.
His office said the trip was cancelled after permission was denied.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the planned programme was not appropriate.
BJP leader N Ramchander Rao says Reddy wanted to meet New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Rao says Mamdani has made statements about India that caused controversy.
Rao also questioned Reddy’s meetings with two Oxford professors.
He alleged that the professors had written anti-India articles.
Reddy’s office said the trip was supposed to include Harvard University, MIT and other institutions.
The reports do not include a direct response from Reddy to Rao’s allegations.
Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao alleged that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy sought to meet New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a proposed US visit.
Rao questioned why the reported Mamdani meeting was not included in Reddy’s itinerary and what benefit it would bring Telangana.
Rao also criticized Reddy’s August 21 Oxford meetings with Professors Maya Tudor and Faisal Devji, whom he alleged had written anti-India articles.
The Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance for Reddy’s US trip, saying the proposed programme was not appropriate.
Reddy’s office said the visit was cancelled after permission was denied; the itinerary included Harvard University, MIT and other institutions.
- Who
- Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Professors Maya Tudor and Faisal Devji.
- What
- The Telangana BJP demanded answers over Reddy’s reported plan to meet Mamdani during a US visit that was later cancelled.
- When
- Rao made the remarks on August 22; Reddy’s Oxford meetings were reported to have taken place on August 21, and clearance was denied on Friday.
- Where
- The proposed visit was to the United States; the questioned academic meetings took place at Oxford University in London.
- Why
- Rao questioned the purpose and benefits of the reported meetings, while the Ministry of External Affairs said the proposed programme was not appropriate.
Telangana BJP’s allegations
Reddy office and official account
Purpose of the US visit
Telangana BJP’s allegations
N Ramchander Rao alleged that the visit was not primarily for education or investment, but to meet people he described as anti-India figures linked to Rahul Gandhi’s ideological mentors.
Reddy office and official account
Reddy’s office said the chief minister cancelled the visit after the Ministry of External Affairs declined permission; the planned itinerary included Harvard University, MIT and other institutions.
Reported Mamdani meeting
Telangana BJP’s allegations
Rao alleged that Reddy sought to meet Zohran Mamdani and demanded to know why the meeting was not disclosed in the itinerary or what benefit it would bring Telangana.
Reddy office and official account
The reports do not independently confirm that the meeting was requested and provide no direct explanation from Reddy about its purpose.
Mamdani’s record and views
Telangana BJP’s allegations
Rao cited Mamdani’s participation in a Pakistan Day celebration, involvement in a 2020 Times Square protest against the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan, and criticism of remarks connected to the 2023 protests over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit. Rao described Mamdani’s views as anti-India.
Reddy office and official account
The reports present these points as Rao’s allegations and recollections; they do not include a response from Mamdani. Rao also cited criticism from senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
- Chief minister
- A Revanth Reddy of Telangana
- BJP leader
- N Ramchander Rao, Telangana BJP president
- Reported meeting
- A proposed meeting between Reddy and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani
- Travel status
- Reddy’s planned US visit was cancelled
- Clearance decision
- The Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance
- Official reason
- The ministry said the proposed programme was not appropriate
- Planned institutions
- Harvard University, MIT and other institutions
- Oxford meetings
- Maya Tudor and Faisal Devji on August 21
