Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Monday sharply criticised the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for denying political clearance for his proposed visit to the United States, describing the decision as an insult to the state’s four crore people and a violation of cooperative federalism.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat in Hyderabad after returning from the United Kingdom leg of his tour, CM Revanth Reddy said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had rejected clearance for the US portion of his ‘Telangana Rising’ delegation trip while approving the UK segment. He noted that the state government had submitted a detailed proposal outlining the purpose, objectives, and proposed meetings well in advance.
‘The purpose of the visit and the proposed meetings were clearly mentioned. If the proposal of a Chief Minister is rejected without properly reviewing the information, can such a decision be taken without the knowledge of the Prime Minister?’ Mr. Reddy asked.
CM alleges BJP government of discrimination
The Telangana Chief Minister alleged political discrimination, pointing out that Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had been permitted an eight-day visit to the US and Canada around the same period to promote the ‘Vibrant Gujarat 2047’ initiative and attract investments. ‘If the Gujarat Chief Minister can travel to the US and Canada to promote Vibrant Gujarat 2047, why was the U.S. visit of the Telangana Chief Minister denied when it was proposed for similar purposes under Telangana Rising 2047?’ he questioned.
The Chief Minister claimed the ‘political angle’ cited by the MEA stemmed from party and regional differences. ‘Modi is BJP; Revanth Reddy is Congress. Modi is Gujarat; Revanth is Telangana,’ he said, alleging discrimination.
CM Revanth Reddy accused the Prime Minister of ‘acting as a Gujarati and not as the Prime Minister of India’ and prioritising one state’s growth over others, arguing that the denial obstructed Telangana’s development and investment prospects in education, sports, and related sectors.
The Chief Minister rejected speculation about unapproved meetings with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani or US Vice President JD Vance, stating no such appointments had been fixed or applied for. ‘Mamdani is not an anti-social element. He is an elected mayor,’ he remarked.
CM Revanth Reddy also referenced Prime Minister Modi’s 2015 visit to Pakistan, questioning the consistency of clearance norms, and wondered if it is ok for the PM to visit an unfriendly country, and not ok for him to visit the US.
MEA’s version
According to the MEA, political clearance for chief ministers and other dignitaries requires that proposed programmes be appropriate to the office held and the stated purpose of the visit; in this case, that standard was not met for the US itinerary, while the UK visit was cleared.
CM Revanth Reddy’s planned US schedule had included engagements at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northeastern University, and Virginia Tech, along with other investment and diaspora interactions.
CM vows to pursue the matter
Mr. Revanth Reddy said the denial was not a personal setback but an affront to Telangana’s self-respect and growth ambitions. He indicated that Congress MPs would raise the matter in Parliament and asserted that state officials would continue pursuing the intended memoranda of understanding and partnerships in the US. He emphasised that Telangana remains open to global investments under all applicable central regulations.