Hyderabad, August 21: A planned foreign tour by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to the United States was cancelled after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) withheld political clearance. Chief Minister Revanth, who is currently leading an official state delegation in the United Kingdom, will shorten his overseas trip and return directly to Hyderabad on August 23 instead of heading to Boston and New York.
Union Government’s Stance
Addressing the decision during a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that official foreign visits by chief ministers and dignitaries are systematically evaluated before granting political clearance. The ministry clarified that while political clearance was granted for the UK leg of the trip, permission for the U.S. segment was denied because the proposed schedule was “not considered appropriate to the office held and the purpose of the visit.”
Response from Chief Minister’s Office
The Telangana Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) expressed surprise at the communication, alleging that permission was withheld due to a “political angle”. State officials noted that simultaneous applications were submitted for both the UK and U.S. legs under standard protocols, but the rejection for the U.S. itinerary was received only after the delegation had arrived in London.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stated that the objective of the U.S. tour was to establish partnerships with world-class academic institutions—including Ivy League universities like Harvard, MIT, Northeastern University, and Virginia Tech—in alignment with the Union Government’s New Education Policy to establish educational and skill hubs in Hyderabad. He emphasized that nation-building and the future of youth should remain above political considerations.
Revised Delegation Plans
Following the denial, Chief Minister Reddy decided to respect the Centre’s decision and return to Hyderabad from London on August 23. However, he directed the remaining official state delegation to proceed to the U.S. independently to continue scheduled engagements and finalize key academic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and partnerships with American universities.
