Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s planned visit to the United States has been cancelled after the Centre did not grant the required clearance, the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Friday.
Reddy, who is currently in London as part of an official Telangana Rising delegation, was scheduled to travel from the UK to the US before returning to Hyderabad on August 30. He will now return to Telangana on August 23 instead.
The CMO alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) refused permission for the US leg of the trip on "political grounds". The Centre’s position on the allegation was not included in the statement issued by the Telangana government.
US Leg Of Tour Cancelled
According to the CMO, the official delegation led by Reddy had planned a series of engagements in the US after completing his UK programme.
The chief minister was scheduled to travel to Boston on August 24 and visit Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He was also expected to interact with the Virginia Tech team in Boston on August 25.
The delegation had further planned engagements in New York, including a programme organised by the US chapter of the Indian Overseas Congress on August 26.
The cancellation means these planned engagements will no longer take place as scheduled.
Reddy Currently In London
Reddy arrived in London on August 20. His UK itinerary includes engagements at Oxford University, Cambridge University, the University of London and London Business School.
He was also scheduled to attend an English Premier League football event at Emirates Stadium as part of the London programme.
After completing his UK engagements, Reddy was expected to continue to the United States. Instead, the chief minister will now return directly to Hyderabad.
Telangana CMO Raises Political Allegation
The Telangana government has described the denial of clearance as a political decision.
In its statement, the CMO said the "official Telangana Rising delegation" had been forced to cancel its US visit because the MEA had refused clearance on political grounds.
The statement did not provide details of what the Telangana government believes were the political reasons behind the Centre's decision.
Clearance from the Union government is required for certain official visits by serving chief ministers and other public representatives abroad.
Planned US Engagements
The proposed US visit was intended to include academic and diaspora engagements.
Reddy's schedule included meetings at Harvard and MIT, along with an interaction with the Virginia Tech team. The New York programme was expected to provide an opportunity to engage with members of the Indian diaspora through the US chapter of the Indian Overseas Congress.
The Telangana government has been promoting its "Telangana Rising" initiative to attract investment, strengthen international partnerships and showcase the state's economic and development priorities.
Return To Hyderabad On August 23
With the US leg cancelled, Reddy is now expected to return to Hyderabad on August 23 instead of August 30.
The development comes as the Telangana government continues its overseas outreach and investment-promotion activities. The cancellation of the US programme is likely to trigger a political debate in the state, particularly over the CMO's allegation that the clearance was denied for political reasons.
The Centre's response will be significant in establishing the reasons behind the decision and whether the denial was related to the proposed itinerary, administrative considerations or other factors.
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