Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy - Telangana CM Revanth Reddy (Left to Right)
New Delhi: Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy on August 25 rejected Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s allegation that the Centre denied him permission to travel to the US for political reasons, saying the proposed visit was subject to established procedures and questioning the people the Chief Minister intended to meet during the tour.
Speaking to the media in Delhi on August 25, Kishan Reddy said Revanth Reddy’s remarks were “meaningless”. He said Chief Ministers and Union Ministers finalise foreign visits only after obtaining all necessary permissions.
Kishan Reddy said Revanth Reddy had hurriedly travelled to London and wanted to proceed to the US from there. He said the Ministry of External Affairs had made it clear before the proposed visit that the programme was not appropriate for the Chief Minister’s level and therefore clearance was not granted.
On August 24, CM Revanth Reddy criticised the Centre over the denial of permission for his proposed US visit, alleging that the decision was politically motivated and amounted to discrimination against Telangana.
Reacting to this, Kishan Reddy said CM Revanth Reddy should have discussed the matter with officials and obtained the required clearance instead of shifting the blame to the Centre.
Kishan Reddy said several factors are considered while granting permission for foreign visits, including the nature of conferences and meetings, the level and background of the people being met, and India’s national interests.
He specifically questioned reports that Revanth Reddy had sought to meet New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a “pro-Pakistan” person.
“I read in newspapers that Revanth Reddy tried to meet Mamdani, the New York mayor. Is this true or not? Revanth Reddy should say. Mamdani is a person who compared the Indian Prime Minister with a terrorist. Did Revanth Reddy try to meet such a person?” Kishan Reddy asked.
Kishan Reddy said foreign visits are also assessed on whether the proposed engagements are in accordance with India’s foreign policy and national interests, including the nature of investment-related meetings.
He further questioned Revanth Reddy’s claims regarding bringing foreign universities to Telangana, saying the Chief Minister should first explain the status of his promises on the State’s education sector.
“You said that 15% of the budget would be allocated to education after coming to power. You promised scooters for students and Vidya Bharosa cards. What happened to them?” Kishan Reddy asked.
He also referred to Revanth Reddy’s promise to establish an international school in every mandal and said the Chief Minister was not answering questions on these commitments.
Kishan Reddy said Revanth Reddy was trying to divert public attention from his failures through such allegations and political statements.
“Revanth Reddy has made it a habit to indulge in empty rhetoric,” he said, alleging that there was no development under the Chief Minister’s rule and accusing the government of failing to implement its promises. He said Revanth Reddy should explain what his government had done for Telangana as it approached 1,000 days in office on September 2.
On the foreign-tour procedure, Kishan Reddy said the rules governing such visits were not introduced by the Narendra Modi government but had existed since Independence.
He cited 2005, when the then Congress government did not allow Narendra Modi to travel to the US, and questioned why the present issue was being portrayed as a political decision.
He said Revanth Reddy had been granted permission in January this year to visit Harvard Business School. He also said permission had earlier been given for the Chief Minister’s London visit in connection with the Musi development project and for his recent London visit.
Kishan Reddy maintained that the denial of clearance for the US leg of the proposed tour was therefore part of the established process and not discrimination against Telangana.
