Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has accused the central government of blocking his planned visit to the United States on political grounds, describing the decision as an insult to the state's roughly 40 million residents. His remarks were reported by The Times of India and other outlets on Monday.
Reddy said the refusal to grant clearance for the trip was not based on any legitimate security or administrative concern but was instead a politically driven move against his administration. He framed the decision as a direct affront to the people of Telangana, who elected his government, according to The Times of India.
The chief minister also pushed back on any suggestion that the academic he planned to meet in the US was a controversial figure. He defended the individual in question, stating that the person is not an anti-social element, as reported by Telegraph India. Reddy's defense suggests he views the Centre's objection as unfounded and aimed at embarrassing his government.
The dispute has escalated into a broader criticism of federal relations. Reddy argued that the Centre's action runs counter to the spirit of cooperative federalism, a principle that expects the national government and state governments to work together rather than obstruct one another, as noted by NDTV.
The Hindu also covered the controversy, reporting that Reddy addressed the matter publicly to clarify his position and counter the Centre's reasoning.
This clash highlights growing friction between the Telangana government and the central administration over the extent of federal authority. The coming weeks may reveal whether the Centre provides a formal explanation for the refusal or whether the dispute escalates further into a larger political confrontation.
