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Revanth slams Centre over denial of nod for US tour
Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the NDA-led Union government over the denial of permission for his US visit, alleging that it was an insult to the 40 million people of Telangana and deliberate discrimination against the state
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Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the NDA-led Union government over the denial of permission for his US visit, alleging that it was an insult to the 40 million people of Telangana and deliberate discrimination against the state.
Revanth Reddy, who returned to Hyderabad after completing his visit to London, told reporters at the state secretariat that he had no personal agenda for visiting the US. “I planned to visit the US to attract investments to Telangana under the State’s “Telangana Rising 2047” vision, besides holding discussions with leading universities and institutions on education and sports,” he said.
He alleged that the Centre’s decision aimed to prevent investments in Telangana and divert them to Gujarat. “Denial of permission to the Telangana chief minister is not an insult to Revanth Reddy as an individual. It is an insult and rejection of four crore (40 million) people of Telangana,” he said.
The chief minister said his proposed visits to the UK and the US were submitted to the external affairs ministry with relevant details and schedules.
“We clearly mentioned that I would meet prominent universities and investors in the US to promote education, sports and investments in Telangana. There was nothing secret about my foreign tour. We submitted the entire schedule to the Union ministry of external affairs,” he said.
However, the CM said the ministry informed him that permission for the US visit was denied for political reasons. “Why was permission granted for the UK visit but the US visit was stopped? What does ‘political reason’ mean? Prime Minister Narendra Modi should give a clarification. Is the reason that I am the chief minister of Telangana or that I am a Congress chief minister?” he asked.
Revanth Reddy recalled that the Centre, which denied him permission for political reasons, had approved the Gujarat CM’s visit to the US and Canada from August 17 to 28 to attract investments under the “Vibrant Gujarat” mission.
“But when I wanted to visit the US for investments as part of the ‘Telangana Rising 2047’ mission, I was denied permission. Why is this discrimination?” he asked.
Revanth said that when a CM travels abroad, Indian diplomatic representatives remain involved in the programme, and Indian missions monitor the official engagements.
He said the Centre’s decision was particularly inexplicable as his proposed US visit was intended primarily to attract investments and promote cooperation in education and sports.
The CM accused the Centre and PM Modi of repeatedly displaying what he termed an “anti-Telangana” attitude. “Non-cooperation by the Centre with the states is against the spirit of federalism,” he said.
He alleged that the Gujarat leadership was conspiring to obstruct Telangana’s development by preventing investments from reaching the state. “Their objective is to prevent investments from coming to our state. Everyone should condemn Gujarat’s dominance over Telangana,” he said.
Revanth Reddy alleged that PM Modi was acting as a “brand ambassador” for Gujarat and wanted investments coming to India to be concentrated in that state.
He asserted that the denial of permission would not prevent Telangana from pursuing its investment targets. “Even if the Centre stops me, it cannot stop my goal,” the CM said.
He announced that the state government would organise an investment summit in Future City in December, where investment opportunities in Hyderabad and Telangana would be showcased to potential investors.
He said the issue of the denial of permission for his US visit would be raised in Parliament.
He also criticised some BJP leaders for allegedly providing misleading information to the Centre about his proposed US visit and subsequently making personal allegations about the tour.
“I do not want to speak about BJP leaders. This is an issue concerning two governments and elected representatives. I want to remind the Centre about the responsibility that governments have to discharge without bringing politics into it,” he said.
Asked whether the Centre had refused him permission because he wanted to call on New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Revanth Reddy said: “He was elected by the people of New York. Why cannot elected representatives travel to the US for legitimate official engagements?” he asked.
There was no immediate response from the government on Revanth Reddy’s statements. However, state BJP chief N Ramachander Rao on Saturday said the Centre was right in denying permission for Revanth Reddy’s US visit, as the trip was aimed at meeting individuals having “anti-India” views, questioning the CM’s plan to meet Mamdani. “Revanth Reddy owes an explanation why he wanted to meet a person who had adopted controversial positions towards India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Rao asked.
