The Congress party launched its nationwide ‘Jai Hind Yatra’ in Telangana on Thursday, aiming to honour Indian soldiers and promote national unity beyond political divides. The event commenced with a large-scale rally in Medchal, beginning from VNR Engineering College and concluding at the KGR Convention Centre. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy led the march, accompanied by AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, MLC Amer Ali Khan, and other senior Congress leaders. Revanth Reddy declared that national security transcends politics and cited the Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor as an example of bipartisan support for military action.

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, CM Revanth Reddy sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the conclusion of Operation Sindoor and referenced former US President Donald Trump’s claim of intervening in the conflict. Drawing historical parallels, he invoked the leadership of Indira Gandhi during the 1971 war and emphasized her courage in defying U.S. pressure to support Bangladesh’s liberation. He insisted the rally was not an electoral stunt but a demonstration of respect for the armed forces. “India now needs Rahul Gandhi’s leadership,” he added, labeling Modi as outdated and disconnected from the nation’s current needs.

TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud echoed these sentiments, highlighting the bravery of Indian soldiers in operations like the recent encounter in Pahalgam. He recalled how former BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee once praised Indira Gandhi as the ‘Iron Lady’ for her decisive leadership. Goud accused the BJP-led Centre of showing weakness in handling national security and yielding to foreign pressure by agreeing to a ceasefire. He alleged that BJP leaders were attacking Rahul Gandhi to distract from their failures. Goud confirmed that the Jai Hind Yatra is being conducted under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to unite the nation in support of its armed forces.