HYDERABAD, Nov 14: The BJP on Saturday accused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of using the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad to provide an international platform to people it linked to George Soros-backed organisations and alleged anti-India narratives. Gandhi, speaking at the summit, alleged that democracy in India had been destroyed in 2014 and questioned the legitimacy of elections.

The BJP said the Telangana government must explain its decision to host the gathering. It alleged that the Congress was seeking support from foreign groups for a “regime change” in India.

At a glance

  • The BJP raised questions over the participation of foreign speakers at the summit.
  • It alleged links between some speakers and the Open Society network.
  • Gandhi questioned the state of democracy and the electoral process in India.
  • Telangana BJP leaders said the state government had ignored public grievances.

What happened

The Congress government in Telangana hosted the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad. The BJP stepped up its criticism after Gandhi addressed the event and spoke about Indian democracy, elections and the influence of big business in politics.

Gandhi alleged that democracy in the country had been destroyed in 2014. He said elections lacked legitimacy and claimed that 140 million voters had been incorrectly classified as non-existent or non-voters. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s links with businessman Gautam Adani.

The BJP questioned the invitation to Guillaume Long, a former foreign minister of Ecuador who was listed as a speaker. Long was described as a senior research fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research and a senior diplomatic adviser to The Hague Group.

The party alleged that the Centre for Economic Policy Research received USD 420,000 in grants from the Open Society Policy Center in 2021. It also referred to Enforcement Directorate searches at eight premises in Bengaluru in March 2025 over suspected violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act involving the Open Society Foundations and its beneficiaries.

Who said what

BJP national media convenor Ashish Usha Agarwal alleged that Gandhi’s politics had moved beyond political opposition towards an “anti-national path”. He claimed that Gandhi appeared pleased when foreign representatives questioned India’s constitutional institutions or democracy.

Agarwal said Gandhi had questioned Indian democracy during visits abroad and was now inviting foreign representatives to India. He asked whether the summit was meant for dialogue or to build international support for narratives against India and its democratic institutions.

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also raised questions about the guest list. He referred to Salil Shetty, former secretary general of Amnesty International, and said Shetty had made serious allegations against the Indian government over Kashmir in a 2019 interview at Harvard.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that Gandhi wanted to bring “regime-change operators” into India’s political discourse. He described Gandhi as a “puppet of foreign powers” and alleged that foreign networks sought instability in India.

Telangana BJP leaders Eatala Rajender and K. Laxman accused the Congress of bringing together organisations which, they alleged, had worked to destabilise elected governments in other countries. Laxman called the gathering an “Anti-Bharat Summit” and alleged that the Congress was working with organisations such as the Progressive Alliance to bring about a regime change by 2029.

Rajender criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for hosting the summit when, he claimed, people faced drinking water shortages and farmers were struggling with drought-like conditions. He alleged that the state government was neglecting public grievances.

Background

The BJP has repeatedly accused Gandhi and the Congress of seeking foreign endorsement for criticism of India’s democratic institutions. Its objections to the Hyderabad summit centred on the alleged links between some participants and the Open Society network founded by investor George Soros.

The party cited the alleged 2021 grant to the Centre for Economic Policy Research and the 2025 Enforcement Directorate action in Bengaluru while questioning the participation of foreign speakers. The allegations have added to the continuing political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress over Gandhi’s criticism of the electoral system.

Why it matters for Assam and the Northeast

The issue concerned a political event hosted by the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP’s allegations over foreign participation in Indian political discourse. No Assam or Northeast-specific organisation, project, law or programme was linked to the summit.

What next

BJP leaders demanded an unequivocal explanation from the Congress and Gandhi on the purpose of inviting the foreign speakers. No meeting, inquiry or deadline for a formal response was announced.