Democracy, Adani, Soros: Bharat Summit ignites fresh Congress-BJP clash

The Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad turned into the latest battleground between the Congress and the BJP on Saturday (November 14), with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleging that India was “no longer a democracy” and the BJP responding with charges that the Opposition party was providing a platform to individuals linked to international networks working against India’s interests.

Addressing delegates at the summit hosted by the Congress government in Telangana, Rahul launched a broadside against the BJP-led Centre, claiming that India’s democratic framework had been systematically weakened over the past decade.

“It is important for the democratic movement on the planet that India remains a democracy and what we have found and proven is that India is actually no longer a democracy,” Rahul said.

Rahul raises election concerns

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha argued that the 2014 general election marked a turning point in Indian politics, alleging that unprecedented amounts of money had entered the political system and fundamentally altered the nature of electoral campaigns. He further claimed that the Congress had found evidence suggesting that democratic institutions had effectively been undermined since then.

Rahul also raised concerns about electoral processes, questioning the legitimacy of elections if large numbers of voters were allegedly being declared ineligible. He linked these concerns to what he described as a broader erosion of democratic norms and institutions.

Also read: Is Bharat Summit Congress bid for a broad coalition against Modi govt?

The Congress leader also used the occasion to criticise the Union government over the participation of foreign delegates at the summit. Apologising to international invitees who could not attend, Gandhi alleged that several of them had been prevented from participating by actions of the central government.

According to him, the difficulties faced by foreign participants offered a glimpse into the political environment confronting opposition voices in India.

BJP questions profile of speakers

Rahul’s remarks triggered immediate pushback from the BJP, which accused the Congress of attempting to internationalise domestic political disputes and questioned the profile of some of the summit’s invited speakers.

BJP national media convener Ashish Usha Agarwal targeted the Congress over the invitation extended to Guillaume Long, the former foreign minister of Ecuador and one of the listed speakers at the summit.

In a post on X, Agarwal questioned the rationale behind inviting Long, alleging that the former diplomat was associated with organisations that had received funding from entities backed by billionaire investor George Soros.

BJP alleges speakers’ Soros link

The BJP leader also referred to earlier Enforcement Directorate investigations involving organisations allegedly linked to the Open Society Foundations and claimed that the Congress needed to explain whether the summit was intended to bring together international voices critical of India’s democratic and constitutional institutions.

Agarwal further alleged that Rahul Gandhi was seeking international backing for an “anti-India agenda” and questioned whether there was a broader political objective behind bringing such speakers to the event.

Also read: Sam Pitroda differs with Rahul Gandhi: ‘PM Modi doesn’t tap phones’

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari echoed similar concerns, alleging that several summit participants had links to Soros-backed organisations and had previously made statements critical of India.

Bhandari claimed that individuals associated with global “regime change” networks were being brought into India’s political discourse under the banner of democracy and governance. Both BJP leaders used the hashtag “#AntiIndiaCongress” in their social media posts, turning the issue into a wider political attack on the Congress.

Congress makes allegations

The Congress, however, has maintained that the summit is designed as a global platform for discussion on democracy, governance and the changing international order. According to the party, experts and policymakers from around 70 countries are attending the event to discuss issues ranging from cooperative federalism and electoral integrity to geopolitical shifts and India’s strategic responses.

The controversy surrounding the summit had begun even before Saturday’s exchanges. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had alleged on Friday that 115 of the 315 international speakers cleared by the Ministry of External Affairs were ultimately denied entry or had their visas revoked.

The Ministry of External Affairs rejected the criticism, stating that visa decisions are sovereign matters and fall within the prerogative of the government.

Rahul’s allegation of business-politics nexus

Even as the Congress and BJP sparred over democracy and foreign participation, a separate political battle broke out over Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the relationship between business and politics under the BJP government.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi hails Telangana gig workers' law, calls them 'foundation of economy'

In a video shared by the Congress from Rahul’s Bharat Summit address, the former party chief alleged that the boundary between business and politics had effectively disappeared in the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani.

He further claimed that the BJP’s assets had increased eleven-fold over the past decade, giving it a financial advantage unmatched by any other political party in the country.

R Ashoka’s response

The remarks drew a sharp response from Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, who accused Rahul of ignoring questions surrounding wealth accumulation among leaders within his own party.

“Mr Rahul Gandhi is busy lecturing the country on the politics-business nexus. Perhaps he should first look at his own backyard,” Ashoka said in a social media post.

The BJP leader pointed to the declared assets of Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, claiming that his family’s assets had risen from Rs 251 crore in 2013 to Rs 1,413 crore in 2023.

Lens on DKS’s land holdings

Ashoka sarcastically remarked that Rahul Gandhi should perhaps study Karnataka’s “model of wealth creation” before criticising others and referred to Shivakumar as India’s richest chief minister on the basis of his election affidavit.

According to Ashoka, Shivakumar’s declared holdings include more than 71 acres of agricultural and other land. He used the figures to challenge Rahul Gandhi’s attack on the alleged nexus between politics and big business.

(With agency inputs)