“Disrespect to Telangana”: Revanth Reddy Slams Centre Over Denied US Visit Clearance
HYDERABAD – Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has launched a scathing attack on the Union government following the denial of political clearance for his scheduled official visit to the United States. Addressing a press conference shortly after returning from an official trip to the United Kingdom, Reddy termed the move an insult to the people of Telangana and a violation of the principles of cooperative federalism.
The controversy erupted after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declined permission for the Chief Minister’s visit to the US, citing that the proposed itinerary was not “appropriate to the office held and the stated purpose of the visit.” While the Centre cleared his trip to the UK, the sudden denial of the US leg has triggered a political firestorm.
A “Gujarat Supremacy” Bias?
Visibly frustrated, Reddy alleged that the decision was driven by political vendetta and a desire to stifle Telangana’s progress. “This is not merely a denial of permission to Revanth Reddy, but a deliberate act of disrespect toward the people of Telangana,” he asserted. “It reeks of ‘Gujarat supremacy.’ It is as if they are obstructing the development and growth of our state.”
The Chief Minister questioned the logic behind the Centre’s decision, pointing out that both his UK and US tours were designed with similar developmental objectives, including attracting investments and exploring academic collaborations. “I asked the Union government: why was I granted permission for the UK, yet denied the US, when both trips involved similar engagements? If there is a ‘political angle’—that Modi is BJP and Revanth is Congress, or Modi represents Gujarat while I represent Telangana—then this is a complete departure from the spirit of federal cooperatism.”
Diplomatic Tensions and Itinerary
The planned US itinerary was intended to be a high-profile economic and educational outreach. Reddy’s agenda included visits to elite institutions such as Harvard University and MIT, discussions with the Virginia Tech University team in Boston, and a ‘Meet and Greet’ event organized by the Indian Overseas Congress in New York.
According to the Chief Minister, the state administration had proactively kept the MEA informed about the objectives of the visit, which were focused on positioning Telangana as a global hub for sports and technology.
Centre’s Stance
In response to the backlash, the Ministry of External Affairs maintained its position that political clearance for dignitaries is subject to a formal assessment process. A spokesperson for the MEA stated last week that the proposed programmes in the United States were not deemed suitable for the office of a Chief Minister, leading to the rejection of the clearance.
Escalation in Parliament
The Telangana government is not letting the matter rest. CM Revanth Reddy confirmed that the issue has been escalated to the national leadership of the Congress party. Both Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi are expected to raise the incident in Parliament, bringing the matter to the forefront of national political discourse.
As the standoff continues, the incident underscores the growing friction between the Telangana state government and the Centre, with both sides trading accusations of political maneuvering over diplomatic protocol.
