Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, delivered a keynote address at the Bharat Summit 2025, hosted by the Telangana government at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) on Saturday.
Speaking to over 450 delegates from more than 100 countries, Gandhi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fostering a climate of “hatred, fear, and anger” in India, while outlining a vision for inclusive politics rooted in love, justice, and dialogue.
Addressing the global gathering themed “Delivering Global Justice,” Gandhi reflected on the changing landscape of democratic politics worldwide, stating, “As we all know, democratic politics has fundamentally changed across the globe. The rules that applied a decade ago simply don’t apply anymore.”
He criticized the BJP’s aggressive political approach, alleging it seeks to “crush the opposition and compromise the media.”
Rahul Gandhi emphasized the Congress party’s commitment to listening to the people, drawing from his experience during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which he said taught him the value of connecting with citizens’ voices.
He also paid tribute to the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, expressing solidarity with the affected families. He noted his visit to Kashmir the previous day had prevented him from attending the summit’s opening, underscoring his commitment to addressing national crises.
BJP’s hate politics
Rahul Gandhi contrasted the BJP’s approach with the Congress’s philosophy, stating, “Their perspective is filled with hatred, fear, and anger, where fear often leads to anger and anger to hatred. Our opposition does not know how to listen because they believe they already have all the answers. This is completely flawed.” The summit, marking the 140th anniversary of the Indian National Congress and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, saw Gandhi articulate his NYAY (justice) doctrine, advocating for social, economic, and political equity.