Rahul Gandhi hails his Bharat Jodo Yatra, says it brought him closer to the people

Hyderabad: Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who participated in the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad on Saturday, reflected on how his Bharat Jodo Yatra transformed his connection with people.

He noted that since the Yatra, engaging with the public has become significantly easier for him. The slogan from the Bharat Jodo Yatra, "Nafrath ke bazar mein mohabbat ka dukaan" (A shop of love in a market of hatred), has resonated powerfully across India.

He contrasted his approach with that of his opponents, stating that while they view the world through lenses of fear, anger, and hatred, his perspective is grounded in love and affection. He expressed optimism that the discussions at the Bharat Summit would contribute to developing the new political framework needed in India and globally.

The Bharat Summit, organized by the Government of Telangana, was a major international conference that drew over 450 delegates from more than 100 countries. Attendees included representatives from nearly 100 progressive political parties, 40-50 ministers, and approximately 50 senators and members of parliament.

Stating the challenges faced by the Congress Party in recent years, Gandhi said that there was a time when they felt completely "trapped and isolated". He said that the new, aggressive style of politics, where the aim was to "crush the opposition" rather than engage with it, had left the party with few functioning avenues. He added that the media and the overall political environment made it difficult for the Congress to operate as it once did.

"Democratic politics has fundamentally changed across the globe. The rules that applied a decade ago no longer hold. The tools that once worked cannot stand up to the modern concentration of capital, media, and social media. The old model of a politician is obsolete; a new kind of leadership must be constructed. That is the real challenge before all of us: reclaiming democratic spaces and reimagining priorities like healthcare through a new political lens. There was a period when even within the Congress party, we felt trapped — avenues for opposition were systematically closed off, and the atmosphere was stifling. To counter this, we reached back into history and decided to walk — from Kanyakumari to Kashmir — a journey of nearly 4,000 kilometers. Once we started, there was no turning back,” he said.

Along this Yatra, Rahul Gandhi has said he learnt two profound lessons first, he realized that their opposition has a monopoly on anger, fear, and hatred — arenas where they cannot and should not compete.

“We needed to find spaces where we have an advantage and can build a compelling counter-narrative. Thousands of people joined us during the Yatra. My primary role was to walk and listen. We made it a point that anyone, without barriers, could come forward and speak to us. Over time, I realized that while I knew how to speak and think, I had never truly listened before. As the walk progressed, the talking faded and deep listening took over. I discovered a whole new dimension of communication — listening not just with ears, but with empathy and intent,” he added.

The second profound realization was about the power of love, he said. “During the Yatra, I allowed myself to openly express love and affection for the people I met. Previously, I had hesitated. But once I began, something extraordinary happened — people responded with overwhelming warmth and positivity. Today, even in public meetings and on the streets, people come up to me, embracing this sentiment of shared humanity. No matter how much hatred is spread, love and affection are infinitely more powerful. Our politics must be rooted in listening, love, and genuine connection with the people we serve,” Rahul Gandhi said.