Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy cancelled his planned US leg after the MEA denied political clearance for the trip.
Foreign visits by chief ministers are assessed to determine whether their proposed programmes are appropriate to their office and purpose.
Reddy said the Telangana Rising delegation would continue pursuing opportunities in education, skills, youth development and economic growth.
The Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance for Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's proposed visit to the United States, forcing him to cancel the trip. The decision was made public on Friday.
The Chief Minister's Office issued a formal statement confirming the development."The official TelanganaRising delegation led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has been forced to cancel their visit to the United States of America (USA) after the Ministry of External Affairs has denied permission, saying...clearance from political angle is denied”, as Hindustan Times reported.
Reddy is currently in London, UK. He was scheduled to conclude his overseas tour and return to Hyderabad on August 30.
MEA Explains Clearance Denial
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified the protocol for foreign tours. Visits by chief ministers are systematically assessed before the ministry grants political clearance.
"Chief ministers, as indeed other dignitaries, are assessed by the Ministry of External Affairs in order to accord political clearance"
The evaluation determines if the proposed programme is "appropriate to the office held and the purpose of the visit". Jaiswal applied this framework to the Telangana delegation's proposal.
"In this particular case, that was not so in respect of the United States, and therefore the clearance was denied" The ministry did, however, grant political clearance for Reddy's ongoing visit to the United Kingdom.
Reddy Reacts to Decision
Reddy formally cancelled the US leg of his tour following the ministry's decision. He said that matters of nation-building and youth development should transcend political considerations. "I have always believed we should all think beyond politics and elections when it comes to nation-building and the future of the youth," Reddy added.
The primary objective of the US visit was to bring leading global educational institutions to Congress-ruled Telangana. The delegation aimed to secure opportunities for young people to access high-quality education, skills and training.
Reddy said that the Telangana Rising initiative will continue to focus on strengthening the state's economic and human resource capabilities, despite the recent political hurdles.
