Hyderabad: Telangana IT and Industries Minister Sridhar Babu defended the invitation to Rahul Gandhi for the Bharat Summit, questioning the criticism over the Congress leader’s participation. He said the three-day event, scheduled to begin in Hyderabad on November 12, would focus on national challenges, technology and global developments rather than party politics.
Sridhar Babu made the remarks while briefing the media alongside Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka in Hyderabad. He said the discussions would examine the root causes of India’s basic problems. The government did not intend to turn the summit into a political platform, he added.
The minister said participants could share views on technology and the challenges facing society. He described the Congress as a party with progressive ideas and said its ideology differed from that of the BJP. Accordingly, the government had invited parties and groups that shared progressive outlooks.
Bharat Summit to host delegates from around 70 countries
Sridhar Babu said representatives from nearly 70 countries would attend the event. The government planned to use the gathering as an economic summit platform to attract investment, technology and international partnerships.
The programme would also examine global changes and emerging trends. In addition, discussions would address issues raised by Generation Z, the minister said.
He further stated that the summit would take up the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue and the Centre’s position on it. Participants would discuss concerns surrounding the process and possible ways to address them.
Referring to the NEET issue, Sridhar Babu claimed that the Centre had taken a decision after Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi raised the matter. He cited their intervention while defending the political relevance of discussions at the summit.