HYDERABAD: Accusing the BJP and BRS of spreading lies about the Bharat Summit, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday alleged that the two parties were misleading the public and opposing the state government’s development agenda. He questioned the BJP’s opposition to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s participation in the event.
Naming BJP leaders G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay and N Ramachander Rao, and BRS working president KT Rama Rao, Revanth charged: “They are not opposing the Congress government but the people of Telangana.”
The two parties, he pointed out, had opposed major projects, including the Musi rejuvenation project, Metro Rail Phase-II expansion, Regional Ring Road and Tummidihatti project.
Taking up the BJP’s objections to Rahul Gandhi’s participation, Revanth questioned why the party had no objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending international summits and conferences but found fault with the Congress leader doing the same. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to other countries, delivers speeches at summits and organises international conferences. If Modi does it, it is considered right, but when Rahul Gandhi participates in an international event, the BJP finds fault with it,” he said.
He said the criticism would not diminish Rahul Gandhi’s image and accused the BJP of adopting a dictatorial stance. In a democracy, he said, everyone’s opinions had to be taken into account. He claimed the BJP feared that Rahul Gandhi would defeat it and become prime minister.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday in the presence of Cabinet Ministers, senior Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and others, the chief minister sought to shift the focus to the purpose of the Bharat Summit. Describing it as a precursor to the Global Summit scheduled for December, he said the event offered an opportunity to introduce Hyderabad and Telangana to an international audience.
CM accuses Centre of blocking int’l delegations at last minute
Rahul Gandhi would address the concluding session on Saturday, followed by the launch of the Gig Workers Policy. Revanth alleged that the Union government had no intention of supporting gig workers and said Rahul’s participation should not be viewed through a political lens. Accusing the BJP of being apprehensive about the Congress leader’s growing influence, he urged its leaders not to oppose his visit to Telangana for political reasons.
The government expected around 1,000 delegates from 70 countries, including environmental scientists, economists, senior journalists and representatives of various sectors.
Revanth said their visit could help attract investments and create jobs. “Today they are my invitees; tomorrow they will become my ambassadors to promote my state, bring investments, and create employment for our youngsters,” he said.
He said the government wanted delegates to experience the state first-hand. Accusing the Opposition of blindly opposing the event, he alleged that the Centre had blocked international delegates at the eleventh hour. The summit would allow visitors to see Hyderabad and Telangana for themselves rather than rely solely on descriptions of the state’s policies and initiatives. “Seeing is believing,” he said.
Revanth also recalled the Delhi curtain-raiser for the Global Summit, which Union Minister Piyush Goyal had attended, and questioned why BJP leaders were now criticising Rahul Gandhi’s participation in the Bharat Summit. He criticised Kishan and Sanjay for skipping the Delhi programme despite being invited. The duo had also stayed away from an all-party meeting convened to discuss the El Nino situation, Revanth pointed out, adding that political leaders should rise above party considerations on matters concerning the state’s development and public welfare.
He further alleged that the Union government had initially granted permission to some people invited to the Bharat Summit but later denied them clearance. Citing the alleged denial of entry to foreign journalists who had questioned Modi during his overseas engagements, he accused the prime minister of authoritarianism. Some journalists who had been granted visas were subsequently stopped by the MHA from travelling to India, he alleged. “Those who asked questions were stopped from coming to India because Modi likes authoritarianism. He considers himself a dictator,” he said.
Telangana is scheduled to host the Invest Telangana Global Summit on December 7, 8 and 9, 2026. Curtain-raiser programmes have already been held in Delhi and other places, with similar events planned in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Revanth said the government aimed to turn Telangana into a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047 by attracting investments.