After P Chidambaram Questions BRICS Benefits, Shashi Tharoor Lists Some - ndtv.com

**New Delhi –** In the wake of the recent BRICS summit, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram sparked controversy by questioning the tangible economic gains for India from the grouping. Speaking at a parliamentary panel, Chidambaran argued that the bloc’s promises of increased trade, investment and technology transfer have yet to materialise into measurable benefits for Indian businesses or the broader economy. He warned that an uncritical embrace of BRICS could divert attention from more pressing domestic reforms and from deepening ties with established global markets.

Countering Chidambaran’s remarks, Congress MP and former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor defended the summit’s strategic value in a televised interview. Tharoor highlighted the “diplomatic convening power” of BRICS, noting that participation offers India a platform to shape global governance, secure multilateral support for its development agenda, and explore new avenues for trade in sectors such as renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and digital services. He cited concrete outcomes from the summit, including a framework for a BRICS development bank loan facility and agreements on academic and scientific cooperation, as evidence that the bloc is evolving beyond a symbolic alliance.

The debate has spilled over into the broader partisan arena. The BJP, seizing on Chidambaran’s criticism, labeled him a “dimagi Naxal” and accused the Congress of spreading negativity about India’s rising global stature. Party chief Nitin Nabin warned that the opposition’s stance undermines the country’s diplomatic achievements and could erode public confidence ahead of upcoming elections. Both sides agree that India’s role in BRICS remains a high‑profile element of its foreign‑policy playbook, but they diverge sharply on how the benefits should be evaluated and communicated to the electorate.