Rahul Gandhi Attacks Modi Government at Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, Says India Is No Longer a Democracy
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed the valedictory session of the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad on November 14, delivering a strongly critical speech against the BJP-led Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking before international delegates, political representatives and progressive leaders, Gandhi alleged that India’s democratic institutions had been systematically weakened since 2014. He claimed that the country’s political and electoral systems had undergone significant changes, raising serious questions about democratic accountability.
“India is actually no longer a democracy,” Gandhi said, arguing that the Opposition had taken nearly a decade to understand the political and institutional changes that he alleged had taken place in the country.
Gandhi also expressed confidence about the Opposition’s political prospects, declaring that the Congress and its allies would defeat Narendra Modi. He said the Opposition’s struggle was rooted in truth, non-violence, compassion and love rather than hatred and intimidation.
Raising concerns about electoral transparency, Gandhi referred to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged that approximately 140 million voters had been declared non-existent or ineligible. He questioned the credibility of electoral processes and called for greater accountability in the functioning of democratic institutions.
Referring to Maharashtra’s 2024 Assembly elections, Gandhi alleged that approximately seven million additional voters were added to the electoral rolls between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections held just three months apart. He questioned the sudden change in electoral outcomes and alleged that these additional votes benefited the BJP. These claims formed part of his criticism of the electoral system.
The Congress leader also targeted the relationship between political power and major business groups. Referring to industrialist Gautam Adani, he alleged that the distinction between business interests and political power had increasingly disappeared under the present government.
Gandhi further argued that the concentration of wealth and economic opportunities among a small number of powerful business groups was creating serious challenges for India’s economic and political structure.
During his address, he described authoritarian tendencies as a growing international concern. He said that people who refused to listen to alternative opinions and believed they possessed all the answers were contributing to the weakening of democratic institutions.
He also highlighted the significance of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, describing it as an important political movement that helped the Congress reconnect with ordinary citizens. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of Satya and Ahimsa, he maintained that truth, compassion and non-violence were essential tools in the fight against political division.
Rahul Gandhi also apologised to several international delegates who, according to him, had been scheduled to attend the summit but were unable to participate because of restrictions imposed by the Government of India. He alleged that their absence reflected the challenges facing democratic engagement in the country.
The BJP subsequently criticised Gandhi’s remarks, accusing him of portraying India’s democratic institutions negatively before an international audience. BJP spokespersons also questioned the backgrounds of certain foreign delegates and raised allegations concerning organisations associated with American billionaire George Soros. These allegations were part of the BJP’s political response to the summit.
The address became one of the major political talking points following the Bharat Summit 2026, bringing renewed attention to the Congress-BJP confrontation over electoral transparency, democratic institutions, economic concentration and India’s international image.
