Hyderabad, Aug 2026 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has cancelled the United States leg of his ongoing 10-day visit after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied permission for the trip, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Friday.
Revanth Reddy had left for London late Wednesday night as part of an official visit to the United Kingdom and the US aimed at promoting TelanganaRising, attracting investments and establishing partnerships in education, skills development and other sectors. The Telangana delegation was scheduled to travel to the US on August 23.
According to the CMO, the state government had sought permission from the Centre for the UK and US visits in accordance with established policy and protocol. While clearance was granted for the UK leg, permission for the US visit was denied. The CMO said the state government was informed about the decision only after the official delegation had already reached the UK.
The MEA reportedly conveyed that the clearance was denied “from political angle”, prompting the Chief Minister to cancel his planned US engagements and return to India after completing his scheduled programmes in Britain.
Reacting to the decision, Revanth Reddy said the primary objective of the US visit was to bring leading global educational institutions to Telangana and provide young people in the state with access to world-class education, skills and training.
“The only purpose of the visit was to, as part of the New Education Policy of Centre, bring the world’s best institutions to India, to Telangana, to Hyderabad,” he said.
The Chief Minister said partnerships with globally recognised universities could help address the aspirations of India's youth by creating opportunities to access high-quality education and professional training without necessarily having to travel abroad.
“They would have been an answer to our youth’s aspirations to get education, skills, and training from the best Ivy Leagues and top global institutions,” Revanth Reddy said.
He also stressed that nation-building and the future of young people should be approached from a perspective beyond political differences.
“I have always believed we should all think beyond politics and elections when it comes to nation building and future of the youth,” he said.
The Chief Minister expressed disappointment over what he described as the “political denial” of the US visit, saying the trip was intended to advance TelanganaRising, strengthen the education ecosystem and contribute to the broader objective of building a developed India.
Despite the cancellation, Revanth Reddy has directed Telangana officials accompanying the delegation to proceed with their planned US engagements. The officials have been asked to continue negotiations and conclude proposed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and partnership agreements wherever possible.
Revanth Reddy said his government remains committed to transforming Hyderabad into a major global knowledge and skills hub.
He pointed to the city's established educational institutions, including Osmania University, the University of Hyderabad and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, as foundations that have helped Hyderabad develop a strong pool of human resources.
He also highlighted institutions such as the Hyderabad Public School, IIT Hyderabad, the Indian School of Business, IIIT Hyderabad and NALSAR University of Law, arguing that their presence has contributed to the city's ability to attract major global corporations and multinational companies establishing global capability centres.
“Now, we will make Hyderabad the home for the world’s greatest education and skills institutions to power our 21st century journey,” he said.
Although the US visit has been cancelled, the Chief Minister will continue with his scheduled programmes in the UK. His itinerary includes meetings and interactions with leading academic and educational institutions, including Oxford, Cambridge, the London School of Economics, London Business School and the University of London.
He is also scheduled to meet representatives of prominent sports institutions and organisations involved in skills development, with the Telangana government seeking to explore and formalise partnerships in these areas.
Revanth Reddy reiterated his ambition of positioning Hyderabad among the world's leading cities and making high-quality international education more accessible to Indian students within the country.
“My resolve and endeavour to make Hyderabad one of the top global cities, where any common Indian can get education and a certificate from Harvard and Oxford, or an MIT and LBS or LSE, is because while most leaders want to send their children abroad, I want to bring the world’s best to India,” he said.
The Chief Minister is expected to return to Hyderabad from London after completing his UK engagements, while Telangana officials will continue efforts to advance the proposed international partnerships.
