Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed a profound message of dialogue and harmony ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, which is scheduled to commence this Saturday at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. Expressing his thoughts on the social media platform X, the Prime Minister stated that leaders from across the globe will gather for the BRICS Summit, while he expressed full confidence that the conference will witness positive and meaningful discussions on various issues with the aspiration for global welfare. The national capital is being grandly decorated and prepared for the summit, with stringent security arrangements put in place to ensure a smooth event.
The Message of Harmony and the Sanskrit Shloka
In his message shared on Friday, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of mutual goodwill and cooperation. He shared a specific Sanskrit shloka to illustrate his point: Sadbhireva sahasita sadbhih kurvita sangatim. Sadbhirvivadam maitrim cha nasadbhih kinchidacharet. This ancient verse carries a deep meaning regarding human conduct and international relations. The Prime Minister explained that the shloka teaches that a person should always stay with virtuous people and seek their company. It suggests that one should engage in deliberations and friendly behavior only with the virtuous, as mutual harmony, dialogue, and friendly relations strengthen peace and cooperation, while this message sets a constructive tone for the upcoming high-level meetings between world leaders.
Preparations and Security Infrastructure in Delhi
The Prime Minister had previously posted a video on Thursday confirming that all preparations for the BRICS Summit 2026 are complete. In light of the summit, security in the national capital has been intensified Notably. To maintain law and order, 15000 personnel from the Delhi Police have been deployed. In addition to the local police, 200 companies of paramilitary forces have also been stationed across the city. The surveillance network has been bolstered with the installation of 500 CCTV cameras at strategic locations throughout the national capital. These include high-resolution cameras equipped with facial recognition systems and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology. These cameras will provide continuous 24 hour monitoring to ensure the safety of the visiting dignitaries and the public.
Traffic Advisory and Public Movement
Regarding the movement of residents and visitors, the Delhi Traffic Police has issued a clear advisory. It has been clarified that the entirety of Delhi won't be closed during the summit. However, there may be temporary stoppages of vehicles on certain routes during the movement of VVIP convoys. The police mentioned that there could be route diversions or specific restrictions on certain roads to facilitate the travel of world leaders, while the authorities are working to minimize the impact on the general public while prioritizing the security of the international delegates.
Arrival of Global Leaders and Key Participants
The summit is seeing the participation of several prominent world leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Delhi on Friday morning to take part in the summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping has also confirmed his participation and is expected to arrive tomorrow. This visit marks his return to India after a long interval of 7 years. Other major leaders attending the BRICS Summit include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, while the gathering also includes the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and the head of the World Health Organization (WHO). The presence of these leaders underscores the significance of the 18th BRICS Summit in addressing global challenges through collective dialogue.