• Pushparaj Deshpande

Even though it would be anathema to admit it, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government has been compelled to adopt the key tenets of the Nehruvian policy of non-alignment in international matters. In almost every economic and geopolitical conflict of the last decade, the BJP government has consciously chosen to balance conflicting imperatives and adhere to a neutral stance. However, there is one glaring normative difference between Nehruvian foreign policy and BJP’s foreign policy. Prime Minister Nehru deployed Non-Alignment as a moral middle-path for all nations to follow, and therefore actively adopted an activist and measured role for India in global affairs. As a result, India played a crucial and widely lauded role in numerous Anti-Colonial struggles, in the Anti-Apartheid struggle, in the Cold War, in the Non-Proliferation Movement and numerous regional conflicts. In stark contrast, the BJP government’s non-alignment is instrumental, and consciously avoids any intervention in global issues. In fact, it could even be argued that the BJP’s non-alignment is just a veneer for partial alignment with right-wing governments and movements. Clearly, far from being a proactive or ethical adjudicator in global matters (as could be expected of a self-proclaimed Vishwaguru), PM Modi’s studied policy has been to ignore the problems of the world (mirrored in External Affair Minister Dr. Jaishankar’s jarring statement in Slovakia in 2023). In doing so, the BJP government’s foreign policy best exemplifies what Rev Desmond Tutu once said—”If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

The BJP government has consciously chosen to extricate India from playing a larger role in world affairs precisely when India is uniquely well-positioned to show a middle-path, as Prime Minister Nehru once did. Consider what is happening today. From the United States of America to Hungary, Italy and Turkey, and coupled with the rise of the far right in France, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom etc., populist-autocrats are methodically destroying democracies, disrupting the liberal world order and establishing a lasting global right movement (often by weaponizing sections of the Indian diaspora). Domestically, this has meant the circumscribing of civic rights and freedoms, slashing of welfare expenditure and social services, attacks on political parties, civil society, journalists, students etc. using law-fare and institutions, and the undermining of the constitutional edifice of liberal democracies. Internationally, this has meant a regression to primordial rules of statecraft, the imposition of tariffs, the forging of trade blocs, the crackdown against immigration, the attack on multilateral institutions like the World Health Organization and United Nations, the ascendance of cloud-capitalists (and their ability to extract revenues across borders, interfere in elections and shape mass consciousness) etc. There has been a concerted effort by the Right to assign the norms and institutions, underpinning the liberal world order to the dustbin of history. Unfortunately, progressive forces (henceforth progressives) across the world have been so overwhelmed with the epistemic crises in their respective nations that they are struggling to respond, let alone redress this global poly-crisis.

Given the world is on the cusp of a major reorientation, the Congress Party led-Telangana government organized the first Bharat Summit from April 24-26, 2025 in Hyderabad, under the stewardship of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Industry Minister D. Sridhar Babu. Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the first African-Asian (Bandung) conference (which ended on April 24, 1955), this Summit sought to amplify Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s vision of Nyay (Justice) to all progressive forces globally. That is why, over 350 international delegates from over 100 nations and nearly 1200 activists, professionals and policy-makers from India engaged in intense discussions over three days to discuss ways to further Economic Justice, Social Justice, Gender Justice, Political Justice, Climate Justice, Peace and Justice, Technology and Justice and Multilateralism. These discussions included 3 former heads of state, 15 Party Presidents, 38 union ministers, 76 MPs/Senators, over 150 senior political office-bearers and 32 global think-tanks. The outcome-oriented discussions inspired disruptive ideas to programmatically tackle the poly-crisis facing India and the world.

Apart from a constructive rethinking of contemporary paradigms, the Summit also encouraged the deepening of bilateral ties, and the forging of a value-based path for the future. In this spirit, the delegates (and the countless who joined virtually) were especially inspired by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s cerebral and heartfelt vision for progressive politics. His emphasis on love and compassion as the way forward for progressives resonated both Mahatma Gandhi’s values and Pt Nehru’s ideas, and was undoubtedly the highlight of the Summit.

The Bharat Summit was also unique because apart from the 100+ progressive parties that attended from all over the world, it brought together international networks like Progressive Alliance, Non-Aligned Movement nations, Soc-Dem Asia Pacific, Progressive International etc. for the first time on a common platform. Most of these networks attended the Summit in response to the key socio-economic and political challenges facing the liberal world order, but all of them went back convinced that under the leadership of the Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi, the Indian National Congress is ready to lead a global progressive movement on the basis of Maitreya (solidarity), Ahimsa (nonviolence), Satya (truth), Nyay (justice), and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One World through international cooperation). These values and tangible programmatic recommendations were resolutely enshrined in the Hyderabad Resolution, which was launched as a conference document at the valedictory session of the Bharat Summit.

By condemning terrorism in all forms including by nations that support violence, the Hyderabad Resolution ensured that leaders from 100 nations stood united in firm solidarity with India and against the dastardly attack in Kashmir. Among the Summit’s numerous achievements, this is perhaps the most unique one, because this is the first time that a party in opposition has been able to marshal global opinion at such a massive scale. Similarly, at a time when governments struggle to respond to (or even acknowledge) tariffs, the Hyderabad Resolution firmly condemned “unilateral coercive measures, sanctions and tariffs that violate the principles of international laws”.

Among other innovative ideas, the Hyderabad Resolution recommended boldly disruptive ideas that challenge established policy dogmas and sought to enhance citizen’s capabilities (through universal healthcare, education, housing and incomes, public infrastructure, decentralised energy production and accessible banking). The scale of the Bharat Summit convinced progressives that they are not alone; that thousands stand united to confront injustices and tyranny in all forms. They went back convinced that we must lift our eyes beyond the threats of today, and collectively write a new history. This was the Bharat Summit greatest achievement, in that it bound conscientious global citizens in a shared quest to confront injustices, forge a new era, tangibly honour the rights and aspirations of citizens and ensure fullness of life for all peoples.

Apart from the panels and closed-door meetings (which were designed to amplify Rising Telangana—the government of Telangana’s flagship mission and discuss progressive policies spearheaded by INC-led governments), there was an exhibition titled Nyaypath (Path of Justice) which showcased the ties between India and other nations and the 140-year history of the INC, hosted side-sessions led by civil society organizations to discuss critical civic issues like transparency, employment, digital rights, gig-workers’ rights etc., a permanent Bapu and charkha booth (which was a solemn attraction for all delegates), local handicraft stalls (which gave part of the Summit an exciting and congenial ambience), and a host of light attractions (including book stalls, bangle-making workshops, caricature artists, selfie and ask-me-anything booths, interview and panel booths etc.). These ice-breaker activities made the Summit more intimate and fostered fraternal ties between delegates. By the end of the Summit, over a thousand delegates were conjoined in a global fellowship bound in friendship.

This was not easily achieved, for the Summit faced tremendous obstacles, both within and without. These obstacles were overcome only because of the steadfast support of the entire Telangana cabinet (but especially the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Industry Minister and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kr Reddy who went out of their way to ensure a warm welcome and overall experience for the delegates), Congress Working Committee Member Salman Khurshid (who had to frequently adjudicate with delegations to forge consensus on the resolution and agenda), Chairperson of the Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda (who aligned the Summit’s goals with the leadership’s vision), All-India Congress Committee In-Charge Meenakshi Natarajan (who steered seamless coordination between the government and Party, deputed an excellent group of Sangam leaders who shepherded each delegation and ensured the Summit normatively amplified Gandhian values), CWC Member Gurdeep Sappal (who supported the In-Charge and PCC President, managed the media/digital media and ironed out any mistakes we made), the Pradesh Congress Committee President Mahesh Gaud and Member of Parliament Jothimani S., both of whom stepped in to save the day multiple times. These were countless other Congress soldiers (who are not being mentioned only in the interest of brevity) who worked tirelessly and selflessly to ensure that the Bharat Summit became a resounding success.

In concluding, it is worth noting that such large international Summits are typically organized by nation governments, with a veritable army of bureaucrats fine-tuning each detail for years (case in point being the G-20 Summit). Yet, the Bharat Summit was pulled off entirely because of the dedication and commitment of Congress Party’s karyakartas, who collectively accomplished what national governments with limitless resources do. In doing so, the Bharat Summit reaffirmed the Congress Party’s tremendous ideological clarity, vision and capability to accomplish wonders to progressives the world over. United under Rahul Gandhi’s soaring vision of creating a NAM 2.0 movement, the Congress Party managed to bring together (and lead) over 100 nations only with the power of ideas and steely resolve. We worked together (against the dreary sands of dead habit), fought (and won) against powerful systems, and collectively laid the foundations for a global transformation. Every Congressperson should legitimately feel proud at what we managed to accomplish. Jai Hind.

The author is the Director of Samruddha Bharat Foundation & Editor, Rethinking India series (Penguin)