Revanth Reddy Targets Centre Over US Visit Denial, Calls Decision Telangana Insult

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Monday described the Centre's decision to deny political clearance for his planned visit to the United States as an “insult to Telangana”. It was Reddy's first reaction after the Union government refused permission for the US leg of his two-nation tour. The chief minister had cancelled the US portion of his trip on Friday following the denial of clearance.

Reddy had embarked on a 10-day visit to the United Kingdom and the United States earlier this week. While political clearance had been granted for the UK leg, permission for the proposed US visit was not approved by the Centre. The Telangana Chief Minister's Office in Hyderabad said the US trip was denied clearance because of a “political angle”, adding to the political disagreement between the state government and the Centre over the proposed visit.

The planned US leg was expected to include engagements at several prominent academic institutions. Reddy was scheduled to visit Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University and Virginia Tech. The proposed programme was expected to provide opportunities for discussions around education, technology and other areas of interest to Telangana, although the visit ultimately did not take place after the political clearance was denied.

Also Read: Revanth Reddy Announces Telangana’s Growing Space Tech Ambitions

The External Affairs Ministry, however, said Reddy's proposed visit did not meet the established norms for granting political clearance. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the ministry assesses proposed visits by chief ministers and other dignitaries before deciding whether to accord political clearance. The ministry's explanation came after the Telangana government raised questions over why the chief minister was not permitted to undertake the US portion of his official tour.

“The visit of chief ministers, as indeed of other dignitaries, is assessed by the ministry of external affairs in order to accord political clearance,” Jaiswal said. The statement indicated that political clearance for visits by state chief ministers is subject to an assessment by the Centre, regardless of whether the proposed trip forms part of a wider international tour. The disagreement has since developed into a political issue between the Telangana government and the Union government.

Reddy's proposed itinerary also included his return to Hyderabad after completing the UK leg of the tour. According to the information provided by the Chief Minister's Office, he was expected to return on August 23. With the US portion cancelled, the chief minister's original international schedule was curtailed, while his office criticised the Centre's decision and linked it to political considerations.

The controversy has now raised questions over the process governing overseas visits by elected state leaders and the extent to which political clearance can influence such travel. Reddy's description of the decision as an “insult to Telangana” signals that the issue could become part of the wider political confrontation between the state and Centre. Meanwhile, the MEA has maintained that the proposed US visit did not satisfy the established norms required for political clearance.

Also Read: Revanth Reddy Accuses BRS Leaders Of Performing Occult Rituals To Harm Congress Government