"Established rules since Congress era": G Kishan Reddy on Revanth Reddy's US tour cancellation

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 22 : Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday said the cancellation of Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's proposed US visit was not a political matter but a procedural issue involving required permissions.
Addressing the reporters here, Kishan Reddy said neither the BJP nor the Central Government had any direct role in deciding a Chief Minister's foreign travel plans.
"Regarding a Chief Minister's travels, neither the BJP nor the Central Government has any direct involvement in the matter itself. However, there are established rules in place since the Congress era," he said.
The Union Minister said that any Chief Minister receiving an invitation for an overseas visit has to approach the concerned ministry for necessary approvals.
"Decisions regarding whether such meetings should or should not take place are made through discussions involving the relevant ministry. Clearance is required for such matters," he added.
Kishan Reddy said permission for foreign visits is not guaranteed and there have been instances where Chief Ministers were denied clearance.
"Often, clearance is not granted; even Chief Ministers sometimes do not receive clearance to travel. These protocols have been in effect since the Congress era," he said.
He further stressed that the rules apply equally to all political parties and a Chief Minister cannot undertake foreign visits without prior approval.
"For a Chief Minister to travel abroad or engage in official activities without prior permission is absolutely wrong. This is not a political issue, whether it involves our party or another, but rather a technical matter," Kishan Reddy said.
His remarks came amid a political row over the cancellation of CM Revanth Reddy's planned US visit, with the ruling Congress and opposition parties levelling allegations against each other.
The Telangana government had earlier said that the Chief Minister's engagements were being rescheduled. The issue has since triggered criticism and counter-allegations between the Congress and opposition parties.
Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government for denying permission to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for his proposed visit to the United States, accusing the Centre of granting foreign travel clearances "selectively" to stall state-level investment initiatives.