Congress Urges PM Modi to Address BRICS Summit Outcomes Publicly

The Congress on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a press conference on the outcomes of the BRICS Summit, while calling on the central government to work towards restoring India's diplomatic space and stature by rebuilding confidence among partners in the Global South.

In a statement, Salman Khurshid, chairman of the party's Foreign Affairs department, said the BJP government has played a limited diplomatic role in the war in West Asia and has been unwilling to forge consensus among BRICS members.

While acknowledging that the Prime Minister has reiterated a position long articulated by the Congress — that India must be a voice for the Global South — the party said declarations of solidarity must be matched by consistent and consequential action.

The statement said the government should take special measures to address concerns over what it described as a perceived endorsement of attacks on BRICS member Iran, its limited diplomatic role during the ongoing war in West Asia, including its reluctance to build consensus between BRICS members, and what it called inadequate support for founding member South Africa when it faced diplomatic pressures.

Khurshid said the government must take deliberate steps to rebuild confidence among Global South partners by demonstrating that India remains a credible and constructive partner even in times of crisis. He added that the summit should be used to exercise statesmanship by forging solidarity among BRICS members without allowing the grouping to become entangled in bloc politics.

The party said India must unequivocally show that it is strong enough to advance its own interests, principled enough to stand with those seeking a fairer world, and trusted enough to serve as a credible bridge between the Global South and the Global North.