Congress to host second Bharat Summit in Hyderabad amid criticism over previous edition

Hyderabad: Despite facing criticism over the expenditure on its previous edition and claims of attracting investments, the Congress party is set to host the second edition of the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad on November 13 and 14. The event comes at a time when the Congress government in Telangana has appealed to people, particularly farmers, to follow austerity measures in view of the power and water crisis.

More than 1,000 delegates from 70 countries are expected to attend the summit. The discussions will cover the global order, electoral integrity, cooperative federalism and other issues. Congress leaders said the deliberations would also focus on the “political vision” of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior party leaders are expected to attend the event.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi, Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu said the suggestions and recommendations made by experts at the summit would benefit Telangana.

During the previous edition, the Samruddha Bharat Foundation, a Congress-backed organisation, was said to have organised the event at HICC Novotel.

However, the Congress government faced severe criticism over allegations that nearly Rs 30 crore had been spent on the summit. The expenditure reportedly included accommodation for delegates in star hotels, transportation and other arrangements.

Questions were also raised about the need to organise such an extravagant international event. The summit’s themes centred on the protection of the Constitution, democracy and justice in India. Critics observed that these were primarily domestic political issues.

The Congress also faced embarrassment after posters displayed at the Bharat Summit featured an Indian map without Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Ladakh. The organisers removed the posters immediately after the controversy erupted.

Despite the publicity surrounding the event, Rahul Gandhi addressed only one session on the final day of the previous edition.