MEA Denies US Visit Clearance to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Over Political Angle

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was forced to cut short his two-nation tour to the United States and the United Kingdom after the Ministry of External Affairs denied him clearance to travel to the US over an unspecified political angle.

Revanth Reddy had travelled to the UK immediately after attending the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday. Following the denial of clearance, he will complete his UK schedule and return to India seven days earlier than originally planned, on August 23.

The denial prompted sharp political reactions. Senior Congress leader and government whip Adi Srinivas accused the BJP of politicising an education-focused tour. Conversely, BJP MP D Arvind alleged that the Chief Minister planned to meet representatives of universities linked to anti-national forces. An MEA spokesperson stated that the programme proposed for the US visit was not appropriate, without providing further specifics.

In a statement issued from London, Revanth Reddy defended the tour, stating its objective was to attract global educational institutions to Telangana under the Centre's New Education Policy. He said the state aimed to invite top international universities to establish campuses in the planned Bharat Future City on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

While the Chief Minister will not travel to the US, the remaining official delegation will proceed as scheduled. The delegation includes advisor and ex-officio special chief secretary to the CM K Ramakrishna Rao, MCRHRD director general A Santhi Kumari, and Congress leader C Rohin Reddy.

During his stay in the UK, Revanth Reddy is scheduled to meet representatives from the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, London Business School, and the University of London, alongside leaders from prominent sports and skilling institutions.