At the Bharat Summit 2025 held in Hyderabad, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi made a powerful call for a complete transformation in the political landscape. Addressing the plenary session organized by the Telangana State government, he declared, “The old politician is dead; it’s time to construct a new one.”
Rahul Gandhi pointed out that democratic politics has undergone fundamental changes globally. “The rules that applied a decade ago are obsolete now. Modern media, concentrated capital, and social media have altered the game,” he said. Tools and methods that worked ten years back, he added, have lost their relevance in today’s world.
The event, attended by around 100 progressive parties from across the globe, touched upon vital themes such as climate justice, gender equality, economic fairness, peace, and youth development. Against this backdrop, Rahul urged progressive parties to adapt to the new realities and find ways to reclaim democratic spaces.
He stressed the urgent need to combat the growing politics of hatred. “Hatred cannot be defeated by copying it or fighting it head-on. The only way to counter hatred is to present love,” Rahul emphasized. He called this approach a “potential framework” for the politics of the future.
Taking a veiled swipe at the current ruling dispensation, Rahul said, “Our opposition thrives on anger, fear, and hatred. We cannot compete with them in these areas—they will always surpass us.” Instead, he suggested that Congress and other progressive forces should build a narrative based on love, listening, and empathy.
Rahul reflected on how Congress once found itself trapped when the media landscape became compromised. To break free, the party initiated the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a massive 4,000-kilometer walk from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, fostering direct communication with citizens.
Sharing a moving experience from the Yatra, he recounted meeting a woman who ran up to him, desperate to share her struggles with an abusive husband. Rahul noted how merely being heard gave her immense relief, underscoring the power of listening in leadership.
“The people want to be heard,” he said. “Our politics should be about love, affection, and understanding the will of the people we represent.”
Wrapping up, Rahul reiterated that while others may dominate the narrative of fear and anger, progressive parties must choose a different path. “No matter how much hatred is spread, the greatest way to counter it is not by fighting back with hatred but by responding with love,” he concluded.
Through his message at the Bharat Summit, Rahul Gandhi outlined a bold vision for the future — one where politics is rooted in empathy, connection, and hope, not division.