BRICS SUMMIT, IN A WAY, IS MODI’S BIRTHDAY GIFT... BJP COULD GET ITS POLL DIVIDEND: Dr JAGDEESH CHANDRA

The BRICS summit has emerged as a major diplomatic showcase for India, with Narendra Modi positioning the grouping as an independent global platform rather than an anti-West bloc. His meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have underlined India’s expanding strategic space. In the latest offering of The JC Show, Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, who described Modi as the “Man of the Match” of the two-day BRICS conclave, shares his observations on BRICS’s impact and how Modi has become the quintessential leader world powers look to. Excerpts...

• The first headline on today’s JC Show is “BRICS & BEYOND … India’s Rise under NaMo.” What does it ultimately signify?
  Dr Jagdeesh Chandra: Absolutely, India’s rise under NaMo has been unprecedented, unbelievable, and unmatchable. He has transformed India into a major global political power. The 140 crore people of this nation love Modi and admire him. He enjoys the total trust and confidence of the entire nation.
  He has redefined the Indian economy. He brought the Indian economy to the fifth position and is now targeting the third position in a year or so. So, BRICS or no BRICS, Modi’s popularity continues to rock, and that is the theme of the story.
• The second headline today is “Under NaMo leadership, world unites in India.” Would you like to explain this narrative?
  Yes. He manages all contradictory forces on one platform, at one particular position. In fact, he is reshaping Indian diplomacy through peace and reshaping the new world order through peace. His capacity to coordinate with different groups on one platform is unprecedented. That is precisely what this is all about.
• Political observers say that with the historic success of the BRICS summit, another aspiration of Modi has been fulfilled. Would you like to comment on this?
  Absolutely, you are right. That must certainly have been his aspiration. When he travels around the world and visits different countries, he sees India receiving respect, and he has received 36 awards. There must have been a thought in his mind that the global stature of India and his own global stature should be seen by people in his own country.
  He must have wanted people sitting in Delhi to witness India’s international stature and importance. That aspiration has now been fulfilled. He organised the summit with such success that, one must say, in the history of the country, and indeed in the history of the BRICS summit, there has never been such a splendid and grand event.
  So, Narendra Modi must certainly have had the aspiration of showing the people of India the country’s international standing, and that aspiration has now been fulfilled.
• A picture of Narendra Modi, Putin and Xi has attracted everyone’s attention, with the three leaders seen smiling and holding each other’s hands. What does this global picture tell us? Why does the world trust Modi?
  Yes, one frame, three super leaders, three powerful global leaders, and at centre stage, Narendra Modi. So, it is very clear that in the new world order, Narendra Modi has captured a unique position. This picture shows precisely that fact.
  The second point is his credibility. He talks sense, he is a man of his word and, finally, he delivers. So people respect him, and people listen to him.
• In diplomatic circles, Narendra Modi is being described as the “Man of the Match” of the BRICS summit. Would you like to comment?
  It reflects his leadership capability. In a way, you can say that. I would say BRICS starts with Modi, BRICS ends with Modi, and, at the end of the day, he is the Man of the Match.
  Everybody recognises that he was the main centre of attraction throughout the two-day conclave. So one can easily conclude that he was the main charm, the main heart and soul of BRICS, and you can call him the Man of the Match of BRICS.
• Narendra Modi’s speech at BRICS was heard very seriously in political and diplomatic circles across the world. What exactly did he say, and what were the subjects on which he focused?
  His concern was the biggest concern, and it was the concern of the entire world. He voiced the concerns of the world in his own words. He said there should be free navigation. In the context of Hormuz, he said there should be free navigation and free movement. The restrictions being imposed there should be removed. The biggest point was that there should be free navigation.
  The second issue was the transformation and empowerment of Global South countries. They should not merely remain followers; they should be part of the decision-making process.
  Third, he said that the Security Council needs reforms and that India should also be made a permanent member of it. Interestingly, Russia and America, particularly China, also supported this, while the UN chief also said that he wanted its expansion.
  So, these were the key points.
• Prime Minister Modi presented BRICS as an independent platform rather than an anti-West bloc. How important is this shift in your view?
  This shift is very important and is a reflection of Narendra Modi’s diplomacy. Perhaps that is why Trump did not react much. Narendra Modi’s position is that we are not against any country, but we want all of us to work together, and we want everyone’s voice to be heard.
  We want better representation for the Global South and on other issues, and we want to become part of the decision-making process. We are not enemies. We are not in confrontation.
  We should not recognise this as West versus BRICS. We should recognise BRICS as its own power and its own force. That was basically his point. He tried to redefine it. So, it is a good idea and a good experiment.
• What issues were discussed between Modi and Putin and what agreements were reached between the two countries? After their bilateral talks at Bharat Mandapam, what message does Modi and Putin leaving together in the same armoured car send to the world?
  The biggest agreement was in defence. India will purchase defence equipment worth Rs 1 lakh crore from Russia. The target is to increase trade between the two countries to $100 billion by 2030.
  The third important aspect is the other agreements that you saw, including agreements on space and critical minerals. There were also routine agreements, including one concerning UPI. There were several agreements, but the major agreement was in defence.
  Regarding the second question, this is their popular car diplomacy, which you have been seeing for quite some time. Now it has also become a fashion. If you look at it, despite all the sanctions and all the opposition from the West, the friendship between the two countries remains intact. This means Narendra Modi does not want to accept advocacy by or interference from a third country in bilateral relations. That is the biggest point.
  “Car diplomacy” is a typical term. You see, it departs somewhat from normal protocol. There is no car diplomacy in normal protocol. Car diplomacy happens when relations between two individuals are deep, there is mutual trust, and both individuals want to convey a message that “we are friends”. That is the message conveyed through it, and it should be viewed in that manner.
• What is the global message of the Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping meeting held during BRICS?
  The meeting was critical. The first issue was the border. Both decided, first of all, that peace on the border is the base. This means peace is the first requirement, and both agree on this.
  China also agrees that the first requirement is peace at the border. Keeping that in mind, Narendra Modi said that differences should not become division. Differences have their own place, but their expansion should not take place further. We have to stop that.
  Both said, “We are committed for a fair, reasonable and mutually accepted solution to the border issues,” and that attention should be paid to a long-term relationship. China said it was interested in a long-term relationship.
  Overall, a good environment has been created to move forward. There is now an atmosphere to address the border issue to some extent, understand it, and take forward other areas as well. These include trade and investment, health, defence and AI.
  The purpose is to say that the border issue should remain where it is, but its impact on other areas should be minimised. Other issues should not be affected by it.
  But at the end of the day, the main issue remains the border. Until there is peace on the border, talking about development would be dishonest. Narendra Modi has explained this point to Xi very clearly.
  The second issue was the balance of payments, which is against India’s interests. The Prime Minister must have raised this issue as well.
  So, overall, the focus remained on the border issue and on normalising relations.
• What important discussions took place between Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at BRICS, and what agreements were reached?
  As I told you, with China, the most important point is that the border issue should be settled. After that, there was discussion on AI. Xi said it should be made open-source, and India said it would consider the proposal.
  Then there was discussion about mutual investment and trade between India and China. Trade should be as free as possible. There are restrictions and barriers in trade, and there should be discussions on removing those barriers.
  Overall, discussions were held on the border as well as other commercial issues, particularly trade and investment. The expectation is that in the coming days, trade between China and India will increase.