The second day of the Times Now Summit 2025 yesterday brought together top political leaders, diplomats, and policymakers for a series of high-profile discussions on governance, infrastructure, global diplomacy, and energy.

The event, co-presented by Dream Sports and powered by Pernod Ricard India, featured candid conversations and strong political statements that set the tone for India’s evolving landscape.

According to a press release, one of the most talked-about moments came when Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, took a sharp swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. In a remark loaded with sarcasm, Puri said, “I want Rahul Gandhi to speak more.”

The comment, aimed at highlighting what he perceives as the Congress MP’s lack of substance in political discourse, drew laughter from the audience. Puri further criticized the opposition’s “freebie politics”, particularly targeting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress for their economic promises. He questioned the fulfillment of Punjab’s Rs.1,000 per month scheme and accused opposition parties of distracting from sustainable development.

On the economic front, Puri highlighted India’s impressive economic growth, stating that the nation has doubled its GDP from $2.2 trillion to $4.4 trillion and is on track to reach $10 trillion. He also emphasized India’s ethanol blending initiative, which has jumped from 1.4 percent to 20 percent, and spoke about ambitious plans to escalate oil production in the Andaman Sea from 35,000 barrels per day to 245,000 barrels.

Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, providing a rare inside perspective on Israel’s military operations and geopolitical shifts. He revealed that Hamas is facing growing resistance from within Gaza, stating, “There are demonstrations against Hamas on the ground. They are losing legitimacy.”

Azar disclosed that 59 hostages remain in captivity, and while negotiations have been challenging, Israel remains committed to retrieving them. He provided startling figures on the ongoing war, mentioning that around 50,000 people have died, with 20,000 of them being Hamas militants. He praised Israel’s efforts in conducting urban warfare with minimal civilian casualties, adding that Israel’s defense ties with India have strengthened significantly under PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. He pointed to multi-billion dollar joint ventures between Israel and Indian companies, particularly in drones and autonomous vehicle production.

Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, DMK leader and MP, took a firm stand against the imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu. Speaking at the summit, she accused the government of linking financial assistance to compliance with the National Education Policy’s (NEP) three-language formula, calling it an “unjust” approach.

Expressing concerns over linguistic representation, she highlighted that Kendriya Vidyalayas have over 85 Hindi and Sanskrit teachers but lack Tamil instructors. She argued that education should be a choice, not a coercion, and reiterated Tamil Nadu’s long history of opposing language imposition. In a sharp remark directed at Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, she said, “If he truly wants to understand our culture, he should learn Tamil.”

She also commented on the political scenario in Tamil Nadu, saying that a BJP-AIADMK alliance could create challenges but emphasized that the DMK would remain firm in its ideological stance.

Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar addressed the pressing issue of Bangalore’s traffic congestion, admitting that the city’s 1.4 crore population is outnumbered by 1.5 crore vehicles. He remarked, “Even I had just one vehicle earlier, and now I have seven. Bangalore’s traffic is messed up.”

Shivakumar revealed that the government is working on “underground tunnels and double-decker roads” to tackle the crisis. He expressed frustration over the lack of central government support, contrasting it with Manmohan Singh’s administration, which he credited for investing in Karnataka’s infrastructure.

The Times Now Summit 2025 has received backing from several state governments, including Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Haryana. Additionally, it has partnered with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham as Knowledge Partner, Ekam as Associate Partner, Da Milano as Luxury Partner, Bennett University as Education Partner, and Times OOH as Outdoor Partner.

As the summit progresses, more thought-provoking discussions and insights from India’s top leaders are expected, shaping the discourse on India’s future across politics, economy, and global relations.