On 14th November (Saturday), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi and his Indian National Congress for platforming controversial voices at its “Bharat Summit” in Hyderabad. The saffron party has charged that these voices are connected to global networks that aim to subvert India’s democratic institutions. The matter is related to the invitation extended to former Ecuador foreign minister Guillaume Long.
BJP national media convenor Ashish Usha Agarwal wrote, “Congress must answer: What is the agenda behind inviting Guillaume Long to its Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad? Long is a Senior Research Fellow at CEPR, which reportedly received $420,000 in grants from the George Soros-backed Open Society Policy Centre in 2021.”
He mentioned that the issue is noteworthy since in March 2025, the Directorate of Enforcement searched eight locations in Bengaluru connected to Open Society Foundations and its beneficiaries in relation to Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations.
Congress must answer: What is the agenda behind inviting Guillaume Long to its Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad? Long is a Senior Research Fellow at CEPR, which reportedly received $420,000 in grants from George Soros-backed Open Society Policy Center in 2021. The matter assumes significance as the ED conducted searches at eight Bengaluru premises linked to Open Society Foundations and its beneficiaries in March 2025 in connection with FEMA violations. By inviting individuals like Guillaume Long, is Rahul Gandhi seeking international backing for an anti-India agenda? Is Congress bringing together international forces under the banner of "regime change" to question India’s democratic mandate and weaken its democratic and constitutional institutions? Is there a larger political agenda behind this gathering? Rahul Gandhi must answer the nation. What is Congress’s objective in providing a platform to such individuals and networks? India’s democracy is strengthened by the people’s mandate, not by international networks seeking to undermine it. #AntiIndiaCongress https://t.co/mjNdRbCKsk
— Ashish Usha Agarwal आशीष ऊषा अग्रवाल (@Ashish_HG) November 14, 2026
Agarwal conveyed, “By inviting individuals like Guillaume Long, is Rahul Gandhi seeking international backing for an anti-India agenda? Is Congress bringing together international forces under the banner of regime change to question India’s democratic mandate and weaken its democratic and constitutional institutions? Is there a larger political agenda behind this gathering?”
He demanded, “Rahul Gandhi must answer the nation. What is Congress’s objective in providing a platform to such individuals and networks? India’s democracy is strengthened by the people’s mandate, not by international networks seeking to undermine it,” referring to Congress as anti-India.
Pradeep Bhandari, national spokesperson of the party, also launched similar allegations. He highlighted, “Bharat Summit 2026 speakers organised by Congress include individuals with links to George Soros-backed networks and a record of anti-India statements.” He stated that Long is a Senior Diplomatic Advisor at The Hague Group and a Senior Fellow at CEPR, which has been “linked to George Soros-backed Open Society funding.” He revealed that Patrick Gaspard, former president of the Open Society Foundations, is also among the speakers.
🚨 Dirty narrative by Congress EXPOSED! Bharat Summit 2026 speakers organized by Congress include individuals with links to George Soros-backed networks and a record of anti-India statements. Guillaume Long ▪️ Senior Diplomatic Advisor, The Hague Group ▪️ Senior Fellow, CEPR ▪️ CEPR has been linked to George Soros-backed Open Society funding. ▪️ Patrick Gaspard – Former President of Open Society Foundations. Rahul Gandhi wants to bring regime-change operators into India’s political discourse while preaching about democracy! #AntiIndiaCongress
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) November 14, 2026
Bhandari accused, “Rahul Gandhi wants to bring regime-change operators into India’s political discourse while preaching about democracy.” Notably, the Congress event has already landed in a major controversy after Giacomo Filibeck, the Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists, repeated Rahul Gandhi’s “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” (Vote Thief, Leave Your Seat) slogan during his address in a blatant attempt to interfere in India’s political matters, as the Gandhi scion smiled and clapped.
The Bharat Summit is deeply affiliated with the Progressive Alliance (PA), a global network of Left and socialist parties founded in Leipzig, Germany, in 2013 after breaking away from the Socialist International. Its stated mission is to share campaign strategies, coordinate international action, and organise under the guise of countering supposed “right-wing populism” and “dangerous authoritarianism.”
Rahul Gandhi sits in its top leadership as one of nine members of the PA’s Praesidium, representing Asia, alongside Congress figures Sam Pitroda and Jothimani Sennimalai on its Board. His commitment to this foreign network has even outweighed parliamentary duties; in December 2025, he skipped the final day of Parliament’s Winter Session to attend a PA meeting in Berlin.
Rahul Gandhi had attended another event of the Progressive Alliance in 2024 too, as he was present at a meeting of international political leaders in Santiago to “cooperate in the fight against democratic backsliding and rising global uncertainties.” The event was held on 5th and 6th October 2024.
OpIndia has earlier reported how the Progressive Alliance follows regime-change enthusiast George Soros’ ideology, who has openly expressed his dislike of PM Modi. Furthermore, the Indian members of this global ecosystem, such as Neha Bora and Prashant Bhushan, have already stated that the recent opposition protests are aimed at bringing down the democratically elected Modi government, echoing the violent examples witnessed in Bangladesh and Nepal.
