By successfully hosting the BRICS summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has infused the government and the BJP with renewed confidence. The successful organisation of this major global summit following the G20 within a span of just three years is being hailed as a significant achievement for the Modi government. The BJP hopes this will help the party recover from recent political setbacks.
The resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was viewed as a major blow to the government. Aggressive attacks by the Congress party regarding police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar effectively washed out the parliament’s monsoon session. During that session, the government could not pass any major constitutional amendment bills and the tabling of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) reports on three such bills had to be deferred. Similarly, securing support from Russia and China for India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council is a major milestone. Other notable achievements of the summit include talks between the UAE and Iran (who had been at odds for months) on the sidelines of the event, the warm reception accorded to the Iranian president, discussions aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, and PM Modi’s bilateral meeting with the Chinese president for the third consecutive year. Even the Opposition Congress party has welcomed this declaration, albeit with some caveats. As the leader of the host nation, PM Modi remained at the centre of the entire event. His warm rapport with other world leaders and his boundless energy were evident throughout the three days. The eyes of the world were fixed on his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. This was not the first time PM Modi shifted the focus of domestic discourse through international meetings and events. It is now up to the BJP and the government to decide how they will capitalise on the success of this BRICS summit. The successful BRICS Summit will be counted among the achievements of his foreign policy. The BJP has begun targeting the Congress party over its opposition to the BRICS Summit.
He maintained a hectic schedule, holding bilateral talks with 15 heads of state or government during this period, alongside numerous informal discussions. The successful hosting of the G20 Summit in September 2023 had already showcased the Modi government’s foreign policy prowess to the world. The successful hosting of the BRICS event will be prominently highlighted during the month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ (Service Pledge Campaign), which begins on September 17 – PM Modi’s birthday, according to BJP leaders. This period also marks the completion of 25 years of his service to the public on October 7.
Before the summit began, a statement by former finance minister P Chidambaram – questioning what India would gain from such an event – had become a major point of contention.
The fact that the Congress could find no issue to criticise other than the dinner menu is a testament to India’s success at the BRICS summit, according to BJP leaders.
