HYDERABAD: Criticising the Centre for denying political clearance for his proposed US visit, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday termed the move an insult to four crore Telangana people and discrimination against the state. He said it went against the spirit of federal cooperation and urged people to condemn the Union government’s decision.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat after returning to Hyderabad from the UK leg of his trip, Revanth, visibly angry, said his office had submitted the programme schedule to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “Unfortunately, the MEA gave clearance to visit the UK, but denied permission to visit the US.”
Addressing speculation about planned meetings with US vice-president JD Vance or New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Revanth said the proposed trip was focused on official engagements with universities and other stakeholders. “Without an official appointment, no programme will happen. Social media and media are speculating. Any meeting would require MEA clearance. Mamdani is the elected mayor of New York; he is not an anti-social element.”
He said the trip was an official visit, with Indian embassy officials overseeing the proceedings and participating in meetings. “There is no secrecy involved.”
Revanth asks Modi to explain ‘political reasons’ for denying clearance for US visit
Revanth said details of all meetings are reported to the Union government and are known to the External Affairs minister, who, having previously served as a secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, is familiar with the procedure.
Explaining the purpose of the visit, Revanth said the official application sought meetings with “key stakeholders, prestigious world-class universities, leading sports institutions, investors and potential strategic partners in the US” to promote Telangana as an education and sports hub and attract investments.
He said his earlier US visits had followed the same procedure, but the Centre this time responded, stating that “MEA has examined the proposal and clearance from political angle is declined”.
Revanth demanded that the prime minister explain the political reasons for denying clearance.
Questioning the decision, he said, “I want to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi. You have visited many countries. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the US and Canada from August 17 to 24 to promote Vibrant Gujarat-2047. The Centre gave him political clearance, but denied it to the Telangana Chief Minister. Why this discrimination when I wanted to promote Telangana Rising Vision-2047?”
Linked to regional identities
Alleging political bias, Revanth said the denial was linked to the political and regional identities of the two leaders. “The political reason is that Revanth Reddy belongs to the Congress, while Narendra Modi belongs to the BJP. I am from Telangana and he is from Gujarat. This is clear discrimination.”
Revanth alleged that the move could hinder Telangana’s plans to attract investments and achieve the goals set by the state government through the ‘Telangana Global Summit 2026’, to be organised under the aegis of ‘Invest Telangana’ on December 8 and 9. “We will invite investments in the education and sports sectors,” he said. He alleged that the Centre blocked his US tour fearing Telangana would surpass Gujarat in attracting investments.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of acting like a representative of Gujarat rather than the Prime Minister of India, Revanth termed the decision “highly objectionable” and alleged that the Centre denied his US visit fearing Telangana would surpass Gujarat in attracting investments. He said the move would hinder the state’s development and added that Congress MPs would raise the issue in Parliament.
Revanth then questioned the prime minister’s visit to Pakistan, asking, “With whose permission did he visit Pakistan? Is Pakistan our friendly nation?”
The chief minister also criticised MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “I suggest the spokesperson can better join the BJP. He cannot continue as the officer of MEA,” he said.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism over his meetings with Maya Tudor and Faisal Devji in London, Revanth said they were academics. “They are professors and academicians. I met her in her capacity as a professor at Oxford University. Maya has written an article stating that democracy in India is declining under Narendra Modi’s rule. I endorse her views,” he said.
Oxford to weigh Hyd campus
Revanth also mentioned the outcomes of his UK visit. He said, “Oxford University assured that it will examine the proposal to set up a campus in Hyderabad by sending its team. Cambridge University and London Business School have assured to start short-term programmes at MCHRD. They also agreed to examine setting up an offshore campus at Bharat Future City. University of London has agreed to set up its campus in Hyderabad.”
The chief minister said the Centre may have stopped him from travelling to the US, but it could not stop Telangana from pursuing its investment plans. Officials have already been sent to the US to sign MoUs with universities and explore investment opportunities, he said. Revanth added that the state would continue working towards the goals set through the ‘Telangana Global Summit 2026’, to be organised under the aegis of ‘Invest Telangana’ on December 8 and 9.
“We will invite investments in the education and sports sectors,” he said.