Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday, 13 November launched a sharp attack on the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the Ministry of Home Affairs blocked foreign delegates — who had already received valid visas — from entering India to speak at the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad. The accusation, made at a press conference, adds a fresh political flashpoint to what the Telangana government had billed as a flagship investment and ideas conclave.

The Delegate Entry Row

Revanth Reddy said the barred invitees included a Norwegian journalist and other international speakers who had been formally invited to the summit. Despite holding valid visas, these delegates were reportedly stopped by the Ministry of Home Affairs from entering the country. The Chief Minister alleged that the move reflected Prime Minister Modi's preference for a style of governance 'in which no questions are asked or raised.' The Centre has not publicly responded to the specific allegations as of Friday.

Rahul Gandhi's Participation and BJP Opposition

Revanth Reddy also defended Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, whose participation in the summit drew criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Chief Minister said Gandhi was attending at the state government's invitation — to unveil a welfare policy for gig workers and to address the summit. He pushed back against the BJP's objections, asking: 'Why is the BJP opposing the Congress leader?' He added that Gandhi's public image would not be diminished by political criticism. Notably, the same opposition from both the BJP and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has extended to major Telangana state projects including the Musi river rejuvenation, Hyderabad Metro Rail expansion, the Regional Ring Road, and the Tummidihatti project, according to Revanth Reddy.

Scale and Scope of the Bharat Summit

The Chief Minister said approximately 1,000 delegates from 70 countries were attending the summit. Agenda items reportedly include environment, infrastructure, investment, and democracy. 'At this event, we will discuss the environment, infrastructure, investment and democracy with experts,' Revanth Reddy said. The conclave is positioned as a prelude to the larger 'Invest Telangana Global Summit', scheduled from 7 to 9 December at Bharat Future City, Hyderabad.

Telangana's Investment Ambitions

Revanth Reddy reiterated the state's economic targets: a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047. He said Hyderabad's investment climate was 'highly conducive' and noted that curtain-raiser events had already been held in Delhi, with similar events planned in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The Chief Minister also criticised Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, State BJP President N. Ramachander Rao, and BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao for allegedly 'spreading lies' about the summit. He also questioned the two Union Ministers from Telangana for skipping an all-party meeting on El-Niño.

What Comes Next

With the Invest Telangana Global Summit less than a month away, the political standoff between the state government and the Centre over the Bharat Summit could complicate investor optics. The state's ability to attract global capital will be tested against an increasingly charged political backdrop, and observers will watch whether the Centre responds formally to the delegate-entry allegations.