AICC representative Gurdeep Sappal described the summit as a direct response to the current global political environment.
Published Apr 24, 2025 | 10:16 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 24, 2025 | 10:16 PM
Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and AICC representative Gurdeep Sappal
Synopsis: Hyderabad is set to host the Bharat Summit 2025 on 25–26 April, with 450 delegates from over 100 countries gathering to discuss justice, pluralism, and global progressive cooperation. The Congress-led Telangana Government is organising the event, which will feature keynote addresses by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, and sessions on issues such as gender justice, climate change, and youth participation in politics.
Hyderabad will host the Bharat Summit 2025 on 25 and 26 April, with around 450 delegates expected from over 100 countries. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will deliver keynote speeches on the first and second day of the summit, respectively.
The event, organised by the Congress-led Government of Telangana, will include sessions on gender justice, climate justice, youth in politics, and pluralism.
At a press conference on Thursday, 24 April, at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), the summit venue, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, and AICC representative Gurdeep Sappal outlined the agenda and significance of the gathering.
Sappal described the summit as a direct response to the current global political environment.
“There has been a global rise in authoritarianism. This event is a conclave of all progressive entities worldwide,” he said.
The summit’s theme, ‘Delivering Global Justice’, reflects the NYAY (justice) campaign championed by Rahul Gandhi. It is being held in partnership with the Samruddha Bharat Foundation to mark 70 years since the landmark Bandung Conference, which helped launch the Non-Aligned Movement.
“We are bringing together elected representatives, party representatives, and intellectuals of a progressive leaning from all around the world,” Vikramarka added.
Drawing a parallel with India’s Cold War-era foreign policy, he added, “Nehru led the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War. This is a similar global consultation event.” He said the summit would help foster international cooperation and “put Telangana on the world map.”
Uttam Kumar Reddy called the summit “a very good event to promote Hyderabad and Telangana,” describing the international participation as “historic.”
The Deputy Chief Minister also announced that delegates would join a candlelight march at Tank Bund on the eve of the summit to mourn the victims of the Tuesday’s terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
Sappal explained that while the summit was initially planned as a cultural celebration of Telangana, recent global events had prompted a change in tone.
“Given the terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam and the death of the Pope, the Congress decided to tone down the event,” he said.
“We have a problem statement of what’s happening worldwide. The event will focus on finding the solution.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
