Revanth’s US trip draws BJP fire

metro india news  I hyderabad

Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao said the Ministry of External Affairs was right in denying political clearance for Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s proposed visit to the United States, alleging that the Chief Minister had planned to meet individuals whose positions on India were controversial.

Rao, in a press statement, said reports suggesting that a proposed meeting with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was among the issues surrounding the US visit had raised serious questions. He asked why the proposed meeting was not disclosed in the Chief Minister’s official itinerary.  “Why did the Chief Minister want to meet Zohran Mamdani? What purpose would such a meeting serve Telangana?” Rao asked. The BJP leader alleged that Mamdani had repeatedly taken positions that had drawn criticism from sections of the Indian-American and Hindu communities. 

He referred to Mamdani’s participation in protests over the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan in 2020 and his political opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Prime Minister’s 2023 US visit. "It is now becoming clear that CM Revanth Reddy wanted to meet spokespersons of anti-India forces, who also happen to be the ideological gurus of Leader of Propaganda (LoP) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi", he remarked.

Rao also cited criticism of Mamdani by senior Congress leader and MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who had publicly questioned his positions on India. He said the issue was not merely political and that the people of Telangana has a right to know the purpose and expected outcome of any such proposed meeting.

“If the US visit was intended to attract investments and serve Telangana’s interests, what was the purpose of seeking a meeting with Zohran Mamdani, and what benefit was it expected to bring to Telangana?” Rao asked.

Rao demanded that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy come forward and explain the reasons behind the proposed meeting and the circumstances surrounding the denial of political clearance for his US visit.