CM Bhajan Lal Hails 12 Years of Modi's Foreign Policy
Synopsis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on 19 June 2026 lauded PM Narendra Modi's 12-year foreign policy record, citing the G20 New Delhi Declaration, the Voice of Global South platform, and India's strengthened Indo-Pacific presence as proof of the country's rising global stature.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma praised PM Modi 's foreign policy on 19 June 2026 via a post on X under the hashtag #12YearsOfIndiaFirst .
Sharma highlighted the New Delhi Declaration adopted during India's G20 Presidency with 100 per cent member consensus as a key diplomatic milestone.
India convened the Voice of Global South platform, representing the interests of more than 125 developing nations .
The Act East Policy and India's growing Indo-Pacific presence were cited as evidence of stronger strategic outreach since 2014 .
Sharma stated that PM Modi has received 33 highest civilian honours from countries worldwide, which he described as a reflection of the pride of 140 crore Indians .
The post frames India as the world's 'first and most trusted partner' in times of global crisis.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday, 19 June 2026, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy record, saying India has undergone an 'unprecedented transformation' on the global stage over the past 12 years. Sharma posted his remarks on X, invoking the ancient ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ('the world is one family') as the philosophical anchor of India's diplomatic rise.
Context
In the post, Sharma listed what he described as landmark achievements of Modi's foreign policy era. He highlighted the New Delhi Declaration issued during India's G20 Presidency as a moment when 100 per cent consensus was achieved among member nations — an outcome widely regarded as a diplomatic feat given deep geopolitical divisions at the time. He also cited India's role as the 'Voice of Global South', giving developing nations a consolidated platform at international forums.
Sharma wrote that India has become 'the first and most trusted partner for any country in times of crisis,' and that global powers now not only listen to India but 'act on what it says with full seriousness.'
Policy Backdrop
India assumed the G20 Presidency in December 2022 and hosted the summit in New Delhi in September 2023, where the New Delhi Declaration was adopted by consensus — a significant diplomatic achievement amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Separately, India convened the first Voice of Global South Summit in January 2023, bringing together over 125 developing nations to consolidate their positions on issues ranging from climate finance to debt restructuring.
The Act East Policy, launched in 2014 as an upgrade to the earlier Look East Policy of 1991, has deepened India's strategic and economic engagement with ASEAN nations and East Asian partners. India's expanding role in the Indo-Pacific — including through the Quad grouping — has further reinforced its strategic footprint in a region of growing global consequence.
Stakeholders and Impact
Sharma's post frames these foreign policy milestones as a source of pride for all 140 crore Indians, arguing that international recognition of PM Modi — including, as Sharma claims, 33 highest civilian honours from countries around the world — reflects the collective strength and dignity of Indian citizens. Developing nations and ASEAN partners are the primary external stakeholders who have benefited from India's more assertive multilateral positioning.
The post carries the hashtag #12YearsOfIndiaFirst, signalling a coordinated BJP communication effort to mark what the party considers a defining decade-plus of foreign policy achievement under Modi.
What's Next
India's diplomatic calendar ahead includes future Quad summits, sessions of the UN General Assembly, and potential follow-on Voice of Global South initiatives that will test whether the country can sustain its bridge-builder role between the developed and developing worlds. Sharma's post is likely a precursor to broader BJP messaging campaigns marking 12 years of the Modi government. How India navigates ongoing global tensions — from the Indo-Pacific to multilateral climate and debt negotiations — will determine whether this diplomatic momentum translates into lasting structural influence.
Point of View
Coordinated BJP effort to consolidate the 'India First' foreign policy narrative ahead of what the party is framing as a milestone anniversary of the Modi government. By invoking Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam alongside hard deliverables like the G20 Declaration and the Global South summits, the messaging attempts to merge civilisational identity with concrete multilateral outcomes. The emphasis on 140 crore Indians as the true recipients of international recognition is a classic BJP electoral device — linking foreign policy prestige to domestic pride. Whether the opposition engages with these claims substantively or dismisses them as political theatre will shape how the '12 years' narrative lands with swing voters.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma say about India's foreign policy?
Sharma said India has undergone unprecedented transformation in foreign policy over the past 12 years under PM Modi, citing achievements such as the G20 New Delhi Declaration, the Voice of Global South platform, and a stronger Indo-Pacific presence.
What is the New Delhi Declaration?
The New Delhi Declaration is the consensus statement adopted by all G20 member nations at the summit hosted by India in September 2023 during its G20 Presidency, which began in December 2022.
What is the Voice of Global South initiative?
The Voice of Global South is an India-initiated diplomatic platform, first convened in January 2023, that brings together more than 125 developing nations to present a unified position on global governance, climate finance, and debt issues.
What is India's Act East Policy?
The Act East Policy, launched in 2014, is India's upgraded engagement strategy with ASEAN and East Asian nations, replacing the earlier Look East Policy of 1991 with deeper strategic, economic, and security ties.
Why is Bhajan Lal Sharma posting about foreign policy?
Sharma's post is part of the BJP's #12YearsOfIndiaFirst campaign marking 12 years of the Modi government, using foreign policy achievements to highlight India's rising global stature.
