JAMMU, Sep 13: Senior BJP leader and former Minister Bali Bhagat today welcomed the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration at the 18th BRICS Summit, describing it as a major diplomatic achievement for India and a strong reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s growing stature on the global stage.
Bhagat said the adoption of the joint declaration at a time of serious geopolitical tensions was particularly significant. Despite sharp differences among member countries, including over the West Asia conflict involving Iran and the UAE, India succeeded in bringing the BRICS members together on a common document. The declaration called for maximum restraint, dialogue and diplomacy and also strongly condemned terrorism, including the Pahalgam terror attack.
“The BRICS declaration is a befitting reply to those in the Opposition (Naraz Fufa) who spend their time questioning India’s strength, diplomatic influence and international standing. While they see defeat and negativity everywhere, the world is seeing a confident, capable and decisive India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Bhagat said.
He accused the Opposition of suffering from a “mindset of political frustration”, saying that whenever India achieves a diplomatic or strategic success, Opposition leaders attempt to find fault rather than acknowledge the country’s achievements.
“The Naraz Fufa should stop looking at every national achievement through the prism of petty politics. India has moved from being a country that merely reacted to global developments to a nation that helps shape the global agenda,” he said.
Bhagat said the BRICS consensus was particularly noteworthy because it brought countries with divergent interests onto one platform. He said India’s ability to facilitate consensus demonstrated the credibility and diplomatic maturity that the country has acquired under PM Modi’s leadership.
Bhagat also highlighted the widely circulated interaction involving Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and a Hindu spiritual leader, saying it offered another powerful glimpse of India’s civilisational and spiritual influence.
The video circulating from the BRICS period showed Pezeshkian listening to a Hindu spiritual leader speaking about Sanatan spirituality and seeking his blessings by touching his feet. The moment drew widespread attention as a symbolic expression of respect for Indian spiritual traditions.
“This is the power of Sanatan. It is not about domination; it is about respect, compassion, harmony and the welfare of humanity. When a global leader listens to the message of Sanatan spirituality and seeks the blessings of a Hindu spiritual figure, it reflects the deep civilisational respect India commands,” Bhagat said.
He said the episode was an example of India’s soft power complementing its hard diplomatic strength.
“On one side, India is successfully bringing competing nations together around a joint diplomatic declaration; on the other, India’s ancient spiritual traditions continue to command respect across cultures. This is the new India,” he asserted.
Launching a sharp attack on the Opposition, Bhagat said those who once questioned India’s ability to play a meaningful role in global affairs were now unable to digest the country’s expanding influence.
“For decades, the Opposition tried to project India as a weak and reactive power. Today, when India is leading discussions on peace, terrorism, global trade, the Global South and reforms in international institutions, they are unable to digest the transformation,” he said.
Bhagat said the BRICS declaration’s support for greater representation of developing countries in international institutions, including the aspirations of India and Brazil for a larger role in the UN system, was an important diplomatic gain.
He further said that the Opposition should understand that India’s foreign policy is no longer dictated by others but driven by national interest, strategic autonomy and confidence.
“The message is clear—India is rising, India is being heard and India is being respected. The Naraz Fufa can continue its politics of negativity, but the world has already recognised the new India,” Bhagat said.
He congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Government and the people of India for the successful BRICS Summit, saying the New Delhi Declaration had further strengthened India’s position as a leading voice of the Global South and an increasingly influential global power.