#Title Sridhar Babu: Rahul needs no re-launch; scoffs at NRR jibes •Questions BJP’s objection to Rahul’s invitation •Rejects allegations of political motive •Representatives from nearly 70 countries expected •Summit to focus on technology & global challenges •Gen Z issues to figure prominently •SIR & NEET issues also likely to be discussed

Venkateshwarlu Kolishetty Hyderabad

IT Minister D Sridhar Babu questioned Telangana BJP unit chief N Ramchandar Rao to tell what was wrong with inviting Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, to the Bharat Summit, scheduled to begin in Hyderabad on November 12. He said the BJP’s remark describing the invitation as an attempt to‘re-launch’ Rahul Gandhi reflected a lack of understanding, as he was already a prominent national and international leader.

Responding to criticism over the invitation by the Telangana BJP chief, Sridhar Babu, speaking along with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka in Hyderabad at the Bharat Summit venue HICC on Wednesday, clarified that the summit was not intended to serve any political purpose. He said discussions would focus on the fundamental challenges facing the country and explore solutions to address them. Anyone interested in sharing views on technology and contemporary issues would be welcome, he added.

Stating that the Congress and BJP followed distinctly different ideologies, Sridhar Babu said the Congress believed in progressive values and that representatives of all parties with progressive ideologies had been invited to participate in the summit.

He said representatives from nearly 70 countries were expected to attend the Bharat Summit, which was envisioned as an economic platform to discuss emerging global trends, technological developments and ways to address contemporary challenges. Issues concerning Gen Z would also figure prominently in the discussions.

Sridhar Babu said, “It is not about politics... our earnest desire is for India, through this summit, to provide solutions to the problems currently facing the world. This is serving the purpose of an Economic Summit”.

The Minister further said the Centre’s approach towards the Special Investment Region (SIR) would also be discussed, along with measures to address concerns surrounding it. Referring to the NEET issue, he claimed that the Centre acted only after Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi intervened and raised the matter.