Prime Minister Narendra Modi set an example for global leaders in Johannesburg on Wednesday when he displayed his respect for the Indian tricolour on a global stage.
Powerful Video of Prime Minister Modi from #BRICSSummit2023 PM’s respect for the Tricolour
To denote the standing position, each leaders place is marked with the country’s flag.
PM makes sure to not step on the Tricolour and immediately keeps it with him in his pocket .… pic.twitter.com/YdRuPkopDb
— Siddhant Mishra (@siddhantvm) August 23, 2023
PM Modi was attending the plenary session of the 15th BRICS Summit and was being guided to his position by his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa. At the stage where the global leaders were gathering, respective national flags were being put on the floor to denote the standing position where each leader is expected to stand.
PM @narendramodi held a productive meeting with President @CyrilRamaphosa in Johannesburg. They discussed strengthening the India-South Africa partnership in diverse sectors such as boosting business ties, security and people-to-people connect. pic.twitter.com/P1XXBgyKgh— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 23, 2023
Prime Minister Modi immediately spotted the national flag on the floor and immediately bent down and picked it up and put it in his jacket’s pocket.
South African President Ramaphosa who by that time already took his place following the marker indicated by the South African flag observed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions and then picked the flag off the floor and handed it over to an aide.
PM Modi also gave a rousing speech at the plenary session of the 15th BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. “BRICS will be Breaking Barriers, Revitalising Economies, Inspiring Innovations, Creating Opportunities and Shaping Futures,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi thanked South African President Ramaphosa for keeping the betterment and development of the Global South in his agenda for the 15th BRICS Summit.
He highlighted that the betterment of Global South is in India’s agenda for the G20.
“We welcome the move to give special importance to the countries of the global south in BRICS under the chairmanship of South Africa. India has also given importance to this subject under its G20 presidency,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi said that India supports the idea of BRICS expansion. “India fully supports the expansion of BRICS, we welcome moving forward with consensus on this,” PM Modi said while sharing five suggestions exploring fields where BRICS member-states - consisting of nations Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa who together represent 42% of the world’s population along with a significant 27% of the global GDP - can come together.
He suggested a BRICS Space Exploration Consortium for BRICS nations to explore space and map weather together. He also suggested that member-states can come together and work in the fields of conservation, traditional medicine, skill mapping and education.