CMs’ Foreign Visits Essential To Attract Investments, Says Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticised the Centre’s decision to deny political clearance for Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s proposed US visit, saying chief ministers travelling abroad to attract investments is a normal and legitimate practice.

Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, on Saturday, Kharge said chief ministers visit countries such as the US and the UK to meet members of the Indian diaspora and explore opportunities for foreign direct investment. He pointed out that a large number of people from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh live in the US and may be interested in investing in their home states or establishing industries there.

Kharge argued that such investment initiatives can strengthen state economies, generate employment and contribute to the country’s overall growth. He accused the Centre of adopting a selective approach towards granting permission for foreign visits and preventing states from independently pursuing investors.

According to Kharge, the Centre’s alleged attempt to ensure that investments come only through the Union government goes against the principles of cooperative federalism. He termed the denial of permission for Revanth Reddy’s proposed visit unfair and said he strongly condemned the decision.

Responding to comments by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge referred to the approach followed by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He said Nehru had framed policies based on the needs of the country at the time and established public sector enterprises, IITs, IIMs and major medical institutions as part of nation-building.

The issue has gained political significance amid Congress allegations that the Centre is selectively denying permission to opposition-ruled states. The Ministry of External Affairs, however, has maintained that political clearance was not granted because the proposed programme was not considered appropriate in view of the Chief Minister’s position and the purpose of the visit.

Kharge also dismissed the ongoing controversy surrounding ‘Vande Mataram’, describing it as an artificial issue raised by the BJP to divide people.

He recalled that in 1937, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose had decided that the first two stanzas of the song should be sung. Kharge said this practice had continued for nearly nine decades and questioned the need to reopen the issue now.

He accused the BJP of using the matter for self-serving political purposes, saying such controversies only distract from more important national concerns.