Rahul Gandhi: Love as a Major Disruption to Hatred

Hyderabad, April 26 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, emphasized on Saturday that the concept of love and affection serves as the most significant and impactful challenge to hatred.

“Even if we differ on policy issues, the foundation and perspective through which we engage in politics must be love, affection, and a willingness to listen to the people we represent,” he stated while speaking at the ‘Bharat Summit’ hosted by the Telangana government.

The two-day summit, themed ‘Delivering Global Justice’, has gathered international political figures and policymakers from across the globe to deliberate on various topics, including gender equality, social justice, and inclusive governance.

Reflecting on his experiences during the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, the Congress MP asserted that forming direct connections with people through affection simplified both his life and political endeavors.

“In personal relationships, I feel at ease expressing love to my family and friends. Yet, even after being in politics since 2004, I had never openly communicated love to those I serve,” he remarked.

The Leader of the Opposition noted that despite the prevalence of social media and modern communication tools, politicians have failed to genuinely listen to the voices of the people.

“This is our opportunity to thrive because our opponents have entirely abandoned this realm; they are absent, nonexistent in this space,” he elaborated.

Rahul Gandhi shared that during the yatra, a young girl’s innocent declaration of 'Uncle, I love you' highlighted the strength of this narrative.

“I started framing my interactions around love, telling people, 'I love you very much.' This shift revolutionized my engagements. People began responding with, 'We love you.' Love fosters a bond, leading to more meaningful dialogues. It transcends mere policy or future assurances; it revolves around genuinely connecting with individuals through affection. This method has simplified my life and political journey,” he expressed.

The Congress leader indicated that while disagreements on policies can exist, there should be a consensus on the perspective from which issues are approached.

“Their (BJP-RSS) perspective is driven by hatred, fear, and anger, where fear often breeds anger and anger culminates in hatred. Conversely, our stance should counter theirs, rooted in love, affection, and a profound understanding of the people's desires and will,” he stated.

He observed that democratic politics has experienced a fundamental transformation globally.

“When engaging with younger party members, I frequently mention that strategies which were effective a decade ago are no longer viable. They cannot compete with the concentration of capital, modern media, and social media. Essentially, the conventional politician has become outdated, and a new kind of politician must emerge.”

He noted that some years back, the Congress party felt entirely isolated.

“This new political landscape, marked by hostility and a desire to suppress the Opposition, left us with limited options. The media and the overall atmosphere did not permit us to operate freely,” he explained, recounting the impetus behind his journey on foot from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

He reminisced that the sheer volume of people approaching him made it impossible for him to speak, compelling him to listen.

“Halfway through the walk, I realized I had never truly listened before. I was adept at speaking and reasoning, but not at listening. Whenever someone spoke to me, I would engage in an internal dialogue, mentally responding. However, as the yatra unfolded, my internal chatter ceased, and I concentrated entirely on listening. I unearthed a more profound mode of communication – one that involves complete silence and deep listening to others.”

“Our opposition lacks the capacity to listen because they believe they possess all the answers. They are certain of what needs to be accomplished. This is fundamentally flawed because it is the people who truly know what needs to be done,” he added.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka also participated in the plenary session.