HYDERABAD: Stating that the “old politician” is dead and the challenging task of constructing a new politician is needed, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asserted that democratic politics had fundamentally changed across the globe.
“Rules that applied a decade ago simply no longer apply; they cannot withstand the concentration of capital, modern media and modern social media,” the former AICC president remarked, adding, “What was effective 10 years ago, and the tools that worked 10 years ago, simply do not work today. In a sense, the old politician is dead, and a new type of politician must be constructed.”
Rahul was addressing the plenary of the Bharat Summit 2025, organised by the Telangana government and attended by around 100 progressive parties from across the globe.
Rahul outlines framework to deal with politics of hatred
The summit discussed climate justice, gender justice, technology, multilateralism, economic and social justice, youth development, peace, and justice.
The Leader of the Opposition called for progressive parties to discuss the changing patterns in politics and new ideas such as regaining democratic space.
Rahul also outlined a framework to deal with the politics of hatred. He said that no matter how much hatred someone spreads, the most effective way to disrupt them is not by copying them, arguing with them, or fighting them, but by placing the idea of love in front of hatred.
“That, I think, is a potential framework for our politics; we disagree on policies,” he said. Rahul alleged that the lens of the “opposition” (referring to political opponents of the Congress) was fear, anger and hatred, while that of Congress and progressive parties should be love and affection. He noted that some years ago, the Congress was completely trapped in the “new politics”, with all its avenues like the media compromised. He said that it was then that the party decided to undertake the 4,000-kilometre-long Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and direct communication with the masses.
“Ours should be that which cuts their lens. Our lens should be love and affection, listening to the wishes and the will of the people we are supposed to represent,” he said.
“Our opposition across the world has a monopoly on anger, fear and hatred. And there is no way that we are going to compete with them on anger, fear and hatred as they will outdo us,” Rahul said.
He said the party sought space where it had an advantage to build a counter-narrative of love. “It was essential to listen to the people,” Rahul said.
With an oblique reference to the ruling dispensation, he remarked, “Our opposition does not know how to listen as they have all the answers.”
He said that it was very important to listen to people, as they want to be heard. He cited the example of a woman who came rushing to meet him during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, to tell him how much she was harassed by her husband. “The moment she narrated her pain, she felt relieved,” he said.
Restating the need for love and harmony, he observed, “No matter how much hatred someone spreads, the biggest way to disrupt them is not by fighting or responding with hatred, but with love.”