The Union government’s decision to deny political clearance for Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s proposed visit to the United States has triggered a political controversy, with the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) USA Telangana Chapter accusing the Union of “double standards” for allowing Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to visit the US.
According to reports, Revanth Reddy’s proposed US itinerary included meetings with US Vice President JD Vance and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. While reports say these engagements were a key factor in the Union’s decision to deny clearance for the US leg of his international tour, the Telangana government has not confirmed the same.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) cleared Reddy’s visit to the United Kingdom but rejected the proposed US trip.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking to reporters in Delhi on Friday, said the programme proposed for Reddy’s US visit was not considered appropriate to the office he holds or the purpose of the visit.
“Let me say that the visits of chief ministers, as indeed 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 in respect of the United States, and therefore the clearance was denied,” Jaiswal said.
He added, “Let me also tell you that clearance was given for his visit to the United Kingdom.”
According to the MEA, the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office had independently arranged the proposed meetings with US officials without informing the ministry or routing them through the political-clearance process.
The denial came after Revanth Reddy and the Telangana delegation had already reached the UK. The Chief Minister subsequently decided to curtail his international tour and return directly to Hyderabad from London on Sunday, August 23, instead of travelling to Boston and New York.
The decision has triggered a political dispute in Telangana, with the Indian Overseas Congress USA Telangana Chapter questioning why Reddy was denied permission to visit the US while Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was allowed to travel there.
The IOC said Revanth Reddy’s proposed US visit was aimed primarily at attracting leading global educational institutions to Telangana and advancing Hyderabad’s ambition to become a global education and innovation hub. His itinerary was expected to include engagements with Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northeastern University and Virginia Tech.
Condemning the Union’s decision, the IOC said that the “use of political or administrative mechanisms to impede legitimate initiatives aimed at promoting education, investment, innovation, and economic development.”
“Political rivalry should end where the interests of India’s youth and the development of its states begin.”
Revanth Reddy has also defended the proposed visit, saying its primary objective was to bring leading international educational institutions to Telangana in line with the broader objectives of the National Education Policy.
“The only purpose of the visit was to, as part of the New Education Policy of the Centre, bring the world’s best institutions to India, to Telangana, to Hyderabad. They would have been an answer to our youth’s aspirations to get education, skills, and training from the best Ivy Leagues and top global institutions. I have always believed we should all think beyond politics and elections when it comes to nation-building and the future of the youth.”
Despite the cancellation of his US visit, Revanth Reddy has directed the Telangana government officials accompanying the delegation to proceed to the US as scheduled. The officials are expected to continue the planned engagements and pursue proposed memoranda of understanding and partnerships with leading universities and institutions.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister is continuing with his UK programme, which includes meetings with academics and representatives of Oxford and Cambridge universities, the London School of Economics, London Business School and the University of London. He is also scheduled to hold discussions with British sports and skills-development organisations.
The Chief Minister stated that the denial of permission would not affect his government’s efforts to boost the economy under the TelanganaRising initiative. “TelanganaRising is unstoppable,” he said, emphasising that the future of the youth and the development of Telangana and the country should remain above politics.