Programme not appropriate: Govt on denying permission to Revanth Reddy for US visit

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said political clearance was denied for Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's proposed visit to the United States because the programme submitted for the trip was not considered appropriate to his office and its purpose.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to questions about the denial, said visits by chief ministers and other dignitaries are assessed by the ministry before political clearance is granted."Let me say that the visit of chief ministers, as indeed of other dignitaries, are assessed by the Ministry of External Affairs in order to accord political clearance. The programme proposed, in such cases, should be appropriate to the office held and the purpose of the visit," Jaiswal said, as quoted by ANI."In this particular case, that was not so in respect of the United States, and therefore the clearance was denied," he added. Jaiswal also clarified that the Centre had approved Reddy's proposed visit to the United Kingdom.US VISIT FOCUSED ON EDUCATION, TECH: TELANGANA GOVTThe comments came after the Telangana government said the Chief Minister's planned US leg of his Telangana Rising delegation had been cancelled following the Centre's decision to deny political clearance. Reddy was scheduled to travel from London to Boston and then visit other US cities, including New York. According to the Telangana government, the proposed US visit was focused largely on education, skills, technology and partnerships with leading global institutions.Reddy had planned meetings and proposed MoUs with institutions including Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northeastern University and Virginia Tech."The only purpose of the visit was to, as part of the New Education Policy of Centre, bring the world's best institutions to India, to Telangana, to Hyderabad," Reddy said.He said partnerships with leading universities could help address the aspirations of young people seeking access to global education, skills and training.Reddy also said political considerations should not come in the way of nation-building and youth development.Following the denial, Reddy decided to return to Hyderabad from London on August 23 instead of proceeding to the US.DELEGATION TRAVEL TO US WITHOUT REDDYHowever, he instructed officials accompanying the delegation to continue with the proposed US programme and pursue the planned MoUs and partnership agreements.Reddy expressed disappointment over what his office described as a "political denial" and said the visit was intended to bring leading international educational institutions to Telangana.Meanwhile, the Chief Minister is continuing his scheduled engagements in the UK. His programme includes meetings with academics and officials associated with Oxford, Cambridge, the London School of Economics, London Business School and the University of London.He is also expected to meet representatives of sports and skilling institutions in the UK to explore partnerships with Telangana.Reddy said his government wanted to position Hyderabad as a global knowledge and education hub and attract leading international institutions to the city.- EndsWith ANI inputsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Aug 21, 2026 16:41 IST