Union Minister G Kishan Reddy dismissed as baseless the remarks made by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy against the central government over the denial of his proposed United States visit. He was addressing a press conference in New Delhi.
Kishan Reddy alleged that Revanth Reddy had proceeded with his US trip in haste, without securing the required clearance from the Centre, and had decided to meet individuals not considered appropriate for a person holding the office of Chief Minister. He said Revanth Reddy had failed to offer any clear explanation regarding the purpose of the US leg of his tour, and asserted that it was wrong to attribute political motives to the Ministry of External Affairs’ decision to withhold permission. Citing precedent, he noted that the Congress government had blocked Narendra Modi’s US visit in 2005 when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat, and had on several occasions denied permission for the foreign travel of other Chief Ministers, including those from its own party.
The minister said the Centre grants such permissions in line with the country’s foreign policy, and that it falls within the purview of the External Affairs Ministry to assess whom Indian Chief Ministers meet abroad and what benefit such engagements offer the nation. Referring to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom Revanth Reddy was reportedly scheduled to meet, Kishan Reddy described him as a pro-Pakistan figure who has been critical of India, alleging that he had previously made derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Modi and had imposed restrictions on festivals celebrated by Hindus in New York. He questioned why Revanth Reddy sought to meet a person he characterised as anti-India.
Kishan Reddy maintained that the Ministry of External Affairs had denied clearance for the visit purely on administrative grounds, and that the matter had wrongly been given a political colour. He said a person holding the office of Chief Minister ought to engage with individuals appropriate to that stature.
He further argued that investments could be secured for the state without the Chief Minister personally travelling abroad, adding that officials could be deputed instead to negotiate and finalise investments and agreements on the state’s behalf.