From Gita to Defence, Modi–Putin summit marks a new era: Gaurav

JAMMU: BJP spokesperson and Convener for International Affairs (J&K UT), Gaurav Gupta, described President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to India as a moment “etched in history, emotion, strategy and unwavering friendship,” marking a dramatic rise in India–Russia relations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Gupta said the tone of the entire visit was set the moment Prime Minister Modi personally accompanied President Putin in the same car right after his arrival an image that flashed across the world as a symbol of trust that is rare even among the closest allies.

He said this was not mere protocol, not a diplomatic courtesy, but a declaration: India and Russia stand together through every geopolitical challenge, every shifting global contour, and every test of loyalty. “When two world leaders step into the same car, they step into the same destiny. Modi and Putin showed the world what real strategic alignment looks like,” Gupta said.

Emotion blended seamlessly with power politics when Prime Minister Modi presented a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita to President Putin. Gupta described the gesture as a spiritual reaffirmation of a centuries-old civilisational bond, a reminder that India–Russia ties are not transactional but rooted in shared respect, shared values and shared commitment to global balance.

Gupta said the summit unfolded into one of the most consequential diplomatic engagements India has witnessed in recent years. The adoption of the Vision 2030 Strategic Roadmap, he said, offers not just a plan but a promise, a future of deeper trade, stronger industrial cooperation, bolder innovation and a re-shaped economic partnership aiming at USD 100 billion trade by 2030. With 96% of transactions moving into rupee–ruble mode, both nations signalled that they are ready to insulate their economies from global turbulences and build an autonomous, resilient financial corridor.

But it was defence cooperation, Gupta noted, that emerged as the beating heart of the summit. He hailed the renewed thrust on joint R&D, expanded co-production lines, advanced aircraft programmes, upgraded BrahMos variants, AI-driven aerospace technologies and next-generation materials as a “massive strategic leap for India’s self-reliant defence future.” The strengthened lifecycle support for S-400 systems, he said, demonstrates the unmatched trust Moscow places in New Delhi.

In a politically sharp statement, Gupta highlighted that the same S-400 system has played a decisive role in neutralising multiple “cowardly drone attacks” originating from Pakistan, especially in Jammu & Kashmir. He said Pakistan continues to attempt destabilisation through drones and proxies, but under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India’s skies remain protected. “The S-400 is not just a machine. It is a shield — a shield gifted by a trusted friend. When Pakistan plots, Russia protects, and India stands firm. This is friendship tested in fire,” Gupta declared.

He said while some nations give sermons during crises, Russia gives solutions and stands by India when it truly matters. Gupta also highlighted the robust assurances offered by President Putin on uninterrupted supplies of oil, gas and coal, calling energy cooperation a defining pillar of the evolving partnership. He noted the impressive progress at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, set to become India’s largest, along with advanced talks on small modular reactors, floating nuclear systems and nuclear technologies for healthcare and agriculture all reflective of a deepening technological synergy between the two nations.

He said the emotional warmth of the summit did not overshadow the seriousness with which global security issues were addressed. Both leaders strongly reaffirmed zero tolerance towards terrorism. Recalling the Pahalgam terror attack and the Crocus City Hall tragedy in Moscow, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that terrorism anywhere strikes at humanity everywhere. Gupta said this shared conviction adds yet another layer of moral unity to the India–Russia bond.

On the Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s principled stand favouring peace, dialogue and diplomacy. Gupta noted that President Putin briefed Modi on Russia’s peace proposals, reflecting the mutual trust that allows India to play a significant role in global conversations on conflict resolution. The summit also advanced the Labour Mobility Agreement, creating a structured and secure pathway for thousands of skilled and semi-skilled Indian workers to take up opportunities in Russia. Gupta said this marks a new chapter in people-centric cooperation between the two countries.

From defence to nuclear technology, from oil supplies to local-currency trade, from labour agreements to coordination at the UN, SCO, BRICS and G20, Gupta said the Modi–Putin summit has redrawn the future contours of a multipolar world. He described the visit as a “defining milestone” that reinforces India’s global stature and strengthens a partnership built not on convenience but on conviction.

He concluded with an emphatic message: “The world saw two leaders travelling in the same car, but what they witnessed was much deeper India and Russia travelling into the future together. Under Prime Minister Modi’s decisive, visionary leadership, this relationship is not just diplomacy. It is destiny.”