HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: Chief minister Revanth Reddy planned to hold “political meetings” during his proposed trip to the US, according to sources in the central govt.The ministry of external affairs had on Friday withheld permission for Revanth to travel to the US, while approving his visit to the UK, where he is at present.The sources said Revanth had plans to meet US vice-president JD Vance and New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, as well as one of US President Donald Trump’s sons.With India’s biggest Trump Towers coming up in Hyderabad, there has been speculation of one of the US president’s sons being invited to its inauguration.The official itinerary released by the CMO before the trip made no mention of meeting Vance or Mamdani. But official sources told TOI in New Delhi that the CM’s programme, as shared with MEA, had mentioned his planned meetings with both Vance and Mamdani.The Centre felt it was inappropriate for a CM to meet these leaders as it would constitute political activity when the visit’s stated objective was promotion of the state’s Rising Telangana initiative.BJP demanded an explanation from the CM.“Revanth should answer the people over reports that he had sought to meet Zohran Mamdani during his now-cancelled US visit. The visit, it seems, was not for education or investment purposes, but to meet rabid anti-India spokespersons who are also the ideological gurus of Rahul Gandhi,” Telangana BJP state president Ramchander Rao claimed in a post on X.On Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had clarified that the ministry had approved Revanth Reddy’s UK visit but rejected the proposed US trip.
Purpose of visit suspected
Bhatti calls denial of nod unfortunate
The programme proposed in such cases should be appropriate to the office held, and the purpose of the visit. In this particular case, that was not so in respect of the US and, therefore, clearance was denied…,” he had said.Revanth is currently visiting the UK where he is meeting representatives of universities and other institutions. He is expected to return to Hyderabad on Sunday.Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka said the denial of permission was unfortunate and the chief minister was only trying to bring the most prestigious educational institutions to the state.“We have been focusing on education, which can improve the standard of living. I don’t see any reasons for govt of India to deny permission. It is political and not correct. Telangana is part of the country and if the state grows, India, too, grows,” he said.Meanwhile, chief minister A Revanth Reddy and IT and industries minister D Sridhar Babu visited the Ambedkar House in London. “BR lived at this place in 1921-22, i.e. 10 King Henry’s Road in Primrose, London.“Visiting Ambedkar House is like a pilgrimage. The inspiration is for a lifetime. I feel renewed dedication for social justice,” wrote Revanth in the visitor’s diary.The Ambedkar House is now a Museum dedicated to the ideals of Ambedkar – Constitutionalism, equality, a casteless society, without oppression, and supremacy of social justice.Revanth, after finishing the tour, said, “it has been one of life’s great moments to be able to see and touch a personal aspect of one of the greatest Indians ever born”.
