After P Chidambaram Questions BRICS Benefits, Shashi Tharoor Lists Some - NDTV

India’s participation in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit has become a flashpoint in the nation’s domestic politics. While the bloc’s leaders gathered in Johannesburg to discuss cooperation on trade, technology and geopolitical coordination, opposition figures raised questions about the tangible benefits for India. Senior Congress leader P. Chidambram, speaking at a parliamentary panel, warned that the grouping had delivered “limited economic returns” and warned against “uncritical endorsement” of the alliance, suggesting that India’s strategic priorities might be better served elsewhere.

Chidambram’s remarks were met with sharp rebuke from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Party officials labeled his comments “dimagi Naxal” rhetoric and accused him of undermining India’s growing global stature. BJP president Nitin Gadkari, speaking to the press, argued that the congress was “spreading negativity” and failing to recognize the diplomatic leverage that BRICS affords New Delhi, especially as it seeks to diversify its foreign‑policy portfolio beyond traditional Western partners.

In response, Congress veteran Shashi Tharoor took to the floor of the Lok Sabha to counter the criticism. Tharoor enumerated several concrete gains from India’s BRICS membership, citing increased access to development finance, joint research initiatives in renewable energy, and a platform for multilateral dialogue that amplifies India’s voice on issues such as climate change and reform of international financial institutions. He characterized the summit as a “diplomatic convening power” that strengthens India’s bargaining position, urging the opposition to acknowledge the strategic value of the bloc rather than dismiss it outright. The exchange underscores the broader contest between the BJP’s assertive foreign‑policy narrative and the Congress’s demand for a more measured assessment of multilateral engagements.