Rahul Gandhi calls out ‘fascists’ at Bharat Summit, launches Telangana gig workers’ welfare scheme

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, spoke at the closing session of the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad on Saturday alongside Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. His remarks at the HICC Novotel venue took place amid demonstrations outside by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) members and strong criticism of the event from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

During his speech at the summit, the Congress MP targeted individuals across business, academia, and politics whom he labeled as "fascists." He argued that while the majority of people are humble and willing to listen, those he described as fascists dominate the conversation through sheer volume and refuse to engage.

"You find people at the head of businesses; you find them in academics, they know it all, and in politics we call them fascists. Fascists tend to scream. They shout, they scream, they don't listen. The majority listens, pays attention, is humble, so the fascists tend to have a louder voice," Gandhi stated.


He further contended that such figures capitalize on institutional breakdowns, adding, "And historically, the fascists jump out of the woodwork when systems collapse... And for the last decade, the fascists have been running, romping, jumping, shouting, screaming."

Prior to his summit address, Gandhi inaugurated the Telangana Gig Workers' Social Security and Welfare Scheme, noting that the state administration had delivered on its commitments to platform workers by establishing legal protections covering pensions, insurance, and data access.

Recalling a 2023 interaction with gig workers in the state via a post on X, Gandhi noted that he had pledged to address their struggles and safeguard their livelihoods.

"I had a long meeting with Telangana's gig workers in 2023. We talked in detail. They shared their hardships, needs and demands. The promise was: your demands will be met, and you will definitely have protection," he shared.

Outlining the key features of the newly launched welfare initiative, the Congress leader highlighted financial protections, control over personal work metrics, and physical infrastructure such as Wi-Fi-equipped rest stops. He noted that these measures are now legally guaranteed rights for the state's gig workforce.

"Today, we fulfilled that promise: Rs 5 lakh accident insurance, Rs 10 lakh health insurance,1% of earnings for pension, rights over their data and earnings, Rest centres with WiFi at various locations," Gandhi posted.