Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has been compelled to cancel the United States leg of his official tour after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied the necessary "political clearance." The decision, communicated on August 21, came after the Chief Minister and his 'TelanganaRising' delegation had already arrived in London for the initial phase of their international engagements.
Clearance Denial Impacts US Itinerary
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the Telangana government had sought clearances for both the United Kingdom and United States segments of the trip, adhering to established policy and protocol. While the Centre approved the UK tour, the rejection for the US visit was conveyed only after the delegation was already in London. Chief Minister Reddy expressed surprise at the denial but stated his decision to comply with the Central government's directive, aborting his US itinerary.
Under the original schedule, Reddy was slated to travel from London to Boston and New York before returning to Hyderabad on August 30. Following the Centre's decision, he will now return directly to Hyderabad from London on August 23.
Delegation to Proceed with US Partnerships
Despite the Chief Minister's inability to travel, he has directed state officials to proceed to the United States as planned. Their mission is to finalize proposed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and academic partnerships with several major institutions, including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northeastern University, and Virginia Tech.
The CMO statement emphasized that the planned US trip aimed to align with the Centre's New Education Policy, fostering collaborations with top international institutions. "The only purpose of the visit was to, as part of the New Education Policy of the Centre, bring the world’s best institutions to India, to Telangana, to Hyderabad," Reddy stated. He highlighted the goal of providing Telangana's youth with education, skills, and training from premier global institutions.
Vision for Hyderabad as a Global Knowledge Hub
Revanth Reddy underscored Hyderabad's rich history as an educational hub, citing the contributions of institutions like Osmania University, Hyderabad Central University, IIT, ISB, IIIT, and NALSAR in attracting global corporations and Global Capability Centers (GCCs) to the city. He also referenced the Hyderabad Public School's legacy of producing global technology executives, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
"While most leaders want to send their children abroad, I want to bring the world’s best to India," Reddy affirmed, outlining his ambition to establish Hyderabad as a global knowledge hub where students can earn certifications from premier institutions like Harvard, Oxford, MIT, LBS, or LSE.
UK Engagements to Conclude
The Chief Minister will complete the scheduled UK agenda, which includes meetings and interactions with representatives from Oxford University, Cambridge, the London School of Economics, the London Business School, and the University of London. Engagements with sports and vocational training organizations are also part of the UK itinerary.