Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy stirred political debate on Thursday by asserting that if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were the Prime Minister, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would already be part of India. Speaking during the Congress-led ‘Jai Hind Yatra’ in Nizampet, Hyderabad, Reddy questioned the Modi government’s decision to call a ceasefire in recent military operations without consulting other political parties.
“Why was no all-party meeting called before declaring a ceasefire, when such a meeting was held before the strikes?” Reddy asked, while accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of acting unilaterally under alleged U.S. pressure.
Drawing comparisons to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s leadership during the 1971 war, Reddy claimed, “If Rahul Gandhi had been Prime Minister, he would have split Pakistan into two and reclaimed PoK, just like Indira Gandhi led to the creation of Bangladesh.”
Labeling PM Modi as an “expired rupee” and “a 1000-rupee note that is no longer valid,” Reddy emphasized that India needs Rahul Gandhi’s leadership to restore national pride and security. “Rahul Gandhi, inspired by Indira Gandhi and the spirit of Kaali Maata, would have stood up to both Pakistan and China,” he said.
Reddy also slammed the Modi government over the alleged loss of Rafale fighter jets, demanding accountability for the aircraft purchased under high-value defense deals. “Pakistan has downed Rafale jets. How many were lost? There’s no transparency. Modi must answer,” he said.
He further alleged that the ceasefire decision was influenced by then-U.S. President Donald Trump, criticizing the government for halting military action under foreign pressure.
According to a statement from the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office, Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extended full support to the Centre at the earlier all-party meeting and endorsed the idea of integrating PoK with India.
Reddy concluded by reaffirming the Congress party’s legacy of sacrifice and called upon party workers to campaign tirelessly for Rahul Gandhi’s elevation to Prime Minister. He also took aim at the BJP’s recent Tiranga Rally, stating that the Congress’s ‘Jai Hind Yatra’ aimed to boost the morale of Indian soldiers allegedly undermined by BJP’s policies.
