New Delhi: The Centre has denied political clearance for Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s proposed visit to the United States, saying the programmes planned during the trip were not considered appropriate for the office he holds and the stated purpose of the visit.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), however, approved Reddy’s visit to the United Kingdom, drawing a distinction between the two legs of the chief minister’s planned overseas tour.
The development came after the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office announced that Reddy had cancelled the US leg of his trip following the Centre’s refusal to grant the required political clearance.
MEA Explains Decision
Addressing reporters, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said overseas visits by chief ministers and other dignitaries are assessed by the ministry before political clearance is granted.
He said the programmes proposed during such visits are expected to be appropriate to the position held by the visiting dignitary and the purpose for which the trip is being undertaken.
“In this particular case, that was not so with respect to the United States,” Jaiswal said, explaining the Centre’s decision to withhold clearance.
He also clarified that the Centre had granted political clearance for Reddy’s visit to the UK.
The remarks came amid a political dispute between the Telangana government and the Centre over the proposed US visit, with the chief minister’s office alleging that the denial was based on “political reasons”.
Telangana Government Says Permission Was Withheld Later
According to a statement issued by the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office, the state government had followed the prescribed procedures and sought the Centre’s permission for Reddy’s proposed visits to both the UK and the US.
The statement said permission was initially granted only for the UK portion of the tour. By the time the official delegation had reached the UK, however, the state government was informed that political clearance for the US visit would not be granted.
Reddy’s office subsequently announced that the chief minister would cancel the US leg of the tour and return to Hyderabad from London instead of travelling onward to the United States. “Although the delegation led by the chief minister was scheduled to visit the UK and the USA, Revanth Reddy cancelled the US leg of the trip after the Centre informed the state that permission was being denied on political grounds,” his office said in a post on X.
The Chief Minister’s Office said Reddy respected the Centre’s decision despite disagreeing with the stated grounds for the denial.
US Visit Included Harvard, MIT and Other Engagements
Reddy had planned a series of academic and community engagements during his proposed US visit.
According to the itinerary, the chief minister was scheduled to visit Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on August 24.
On August 25, he was expected to travel to the northeastern part of the US and meet a team from Virginia Tech University in Boston.
His programme also included a “Meet and Greet” event organised by the Indian Overseas Congress (USA) in New York on August 26.
Reddy was scheduled to return to Hyderabad on August 30 after completing the US leg of the tour.
The proposed engagements were expected to provide an opportunity for discussions with academic institutions, members of the Indian diaspora and other stakeholders. However, the MEA did not elaborate on which specific programmes it considered inappropriate or explain whether the concerns related to the nature of the engagements, the stated objectives of the visit or other considerations.
Political Row Between Centre and Telangana Government
The decision has triggered a fresh political controversy between the Telangana government and the Centre.
Reddy’s office has characterised the denial of clearance as politically motivated, while the MEA has maintained that the decision was based on the assessment of the proposed programme and the purpose of the visit.
The Centre’s explanation also underlines the role of political clearance in overseas visits by Indian public officials. Such visits are subject to scrutiny by the MEA, particularly when they involve elected representatives holding constitutional or senior public offices.
The Telangana government, meanwhile, has maintained that the chief minister’s proposed foreign engagements were part of an official programme and that the necessary permissions had been sought through established channels.
UK Visit Cleared by Centre
Despite the disagreement over the US leg, the MEA confirmed that Reddy’s UK visit had received the required clearance.
The Centre’s decision means that the chief minister’s overseas itinerary will be shortened, with Reddy returning to Hyderabad from London rather than travelling to the US. The episode has brought renewed attention to the procedures governing foreign visits by state chief ministers and the role of the Centre in granting political clearance. For now, the two sides remain at odds over the reasons behind the denial. While the MEA has described the proposed US programme as unsuitable in relation to Reddy’s office and the purpose of his visit, the Telangana government has alleged political motives.
No further details have been provided by the Centre on which specific engagements led to the denial of clearance. The development is likely to add to the ongoing political friction between the Telangana government and the Centre, particularly over the process of granting clearances for official foreign visits. While the MEA has maintained that such decisions are based on established protocols and the suitability of proposed programmes, the Telangana government’s claim of political interference could keep the issue in the political spotlight. The controversy may also prompt further discussion over greater clarity and transparency in the criteria used to approve or deny overseas visits by elected state leaders. The issue is expected to remain a point of contention, with opposition parties and constitutional experts closely watching the Centre’s role in regulating overseas visits by state leaders. The Telangana government may seek reconsideration. The controversy is likely to continue.