Telangana BJP questions Revanth Reddy over reported meeting with New York Mayor Mamdani
What was on Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's US itinerary has become a fresh political flashpoint, with state BJP president N Ramchander Rao questioning a reported plan to meet New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Rao on Saturday asked Reddy to explain the reported meeting and alleged that the chief minister's proposed US visit involved engagements that went beyond education and investment.
"It is now emerging from media reports that Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s visit to the USA was not for education or investment purposes for Telangana, but to meet rabid anti-India spokespersons who are also the ideological gurus of LoP Rahul Gandhi," Rao said in a post on X.
He also questioned Reddy's meetings with Oxford University professors Maya Tudor of the Blavatnik School of Government and Faisal Devji of Balliol College during his London visit on August 21.
Rao alleged that the two professors had written "anti-India articles" and questioned the purpose of Reddy's meetings with them.
The BJP leader also claimed that Reddy wanted to meet Mamdani during his US visit and accused the New York mayor of having "anti-India views".
"What business does Revanth Reddy have in meeting them? People are demanding answers," Rao said.
The controversy comes after Reddy's planned US visit was cancelled when the Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that the proposed programme was not "appropriate" for the office held and the purpose of the visit.
Reddy's office had said the chief minister was scheduled to visit Harvard University, MIT and other institutions in the US as part of an effort to explore education and investment opportunities for Telangana.
Reddy has maintained that the purpose of the trip was to connect Telangana with leading global institutions and create better opportunities for education, skills and training for the state's youth.
The reported Mamdani meeting has not been independently detailed by the government, while the BJP is now demanding an explanation from the chief minister over the proposed itinerary.
(With inputs from PTI)
