• Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s US visit has been cancelled after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied permission for the United States leg of his ongoing overseas visit, as per the Telangana Chief Minister Office (CMO).
• Revanth Reddy had planned to travel from the UK to the US as part of the TelanganaRising delegation, however, the state government reported that the Centre refused political clearance for the US segment of his visit.
• The CMO stated that the MEA informed the Telangana government that “clearance from political angle is denied”, due to which the Chief Minister will not be able to proceed to Boston as initially planned.

Revanth Reddy to Return to Hyderabad on August 23

• Currently in London, Revanth Reddy will return to Hyderabad on August 23, instead of travelling to the United States as part of his foreign visit, following the abrupt cancellation.
• As per the itinerary, the Telangana Chief Minister was scheduled to visit the US ahead of his return to Hyderabad later this month.
• As reported by the media, the state government had applied for permissions for the Chief Minister’s overseas visits to both the UK and the US via the proper channels.
• However, while the UK segment of the tour was cleared, the permission for the US segment was denied, despite the delegation already being in the UK.

Why was Revanth Reddy’s US Visit Proposed?

According to reports, the proposed US segment of the tour was to feature education, skill development, and partnership building, as well as investment promotion for the state.

The Chief Minister had planned to interact with premier universities and educational institutes, as well as explore opportunities for creating partnerships with various institutions in Telangana.

It has been reported that Revanth Reddy has expressed his desire to bring in world-class education to Hyderabad, as well as enable students and young professionals to gain access to high-quality education and skill development resources.

Revanth Reddy Reacts to the Cancelled US Visit

As per media reports, while addressing the cancellation of the US visit, Revanth Reddy stated that the objective of his proposed visit to the US was to bring global premier educational institutions to Hyderabad in accordance with the National Education Policy.

He further stated that educational opportunities and youth empowerment should not be subject to political considerations.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that Hyderabad has the potential to become a global centre for knowledge and education through strategic efforts, including attracting premier world-class universities and institutions.

Telangana Delegation to Continue US Engagements

Although Revanth Reddy’s overseas engagements in the US have been cancelled, it has been reported that the Telangana government has directed the delegates accompanying the Chief Minister to continue their engagements in the US.

In addition, the delegates are expected to explore opportunities for signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with academic institutions, as well as pursue partnerships with various universities.

The delegation has reportedly planned to interact with Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northeastern University, Virginia Tech, among others.

With global collaborations, the Telangana government expects to achieve its goals of creating an ecosystem of knowledge, education, and innovation in Hyderabad, as well as empower the youth through premier skills development resources.

UK Visit to Continue as Scheduled

• Although his US segment has been cancelled, Revanth Reddy’s engagements in the UK continue as planned.
• The Telangana Chief Minister has scheduled meetings with premier educational institutions, including Oxford University, Cambridge, London School of Economics, and London Business School.
• In addition, the delegation is set to continue its efforts at promoting global partnerships in Hyderabad, as part of Telangana Rising and the state’s broader development agenda.

Political Repercussions of the Cancelled US Visit by Revanth Reddy

The cancellation of the US segment of Revanth Reddy’s foreign visit has created great political noise in Telangana, due to the sensitivity of the TelanganaRising project as well as the state’s agenda of attracting global investment and partnerships.

TheCentre’s decision to withhold political clearance for the overseas event has also raised questions regarding the processes followed or the reasons for denial, as the state government has sought clarifications.

Meanwhile, the Telangana government has stated its resolve to achieve its developmental goals and vision for youth empowerment, despite the interference from the Centre, as per Revanth Reddy’s statements in response to the cancelled US visit.