New Delhi: A political row has erupted over the upcoming BRICS Leaders Summit in India after Congress leader P. Chidambaram questioned the benefits India has gained from its participation in BRICS and other global forums. The BJP hit back at his remarks, with party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari referring to him as a “naraz phupha” or “displeased uncle.”
Chidambaram questioned what India had gained from its membership of BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), G20 and QUAD. He said he did not believe the last two or three BRICS summits had produced any concrete benefits or significant outcomes for India.
Chidambaram Questions Benefits of Global Forums
The Congress leader said India was a member of BRICS, SCO, G20 and QUAD, but the benefits of participation in these platforms were not clear to him.
He, however, acknowledged that some of the earlier BRICS summits had produced concrete benefits.
Chidambaram’s remarks came ahead of India hosting the 18th BRICS Leaders Summit in New Delhi.
BJP’s Pradeep Bhandari Hits Back
Responding through a social media post, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticised Chidambaram and described him as a “naraz phupha.”
Bhandari said that whenever something positive happened in India, the Congress found a reason to object. He also said that before questioning why India was hosting the BRICS Summit, the Congress should have first gathered basic information about the forum.
He claimed that India’s exports to BRICS countries had reached around USD 85 billion. He further said that after its expansion, the BRICS grouping represented nearly half of the world’s population and around 40 percent of global GDP.
The BJP leader also alleged that the Congress did not appreciate India’s progress.
India to Host BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13
India is scheduled to host the 18th BRICS Leaders Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. India is chairing BRICS for the fourth time this year.
The theme of this year’s summit is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Leaders of the expanded 11-member BRICS grouping are expected to participate in the summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, among other leaders from member countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to attend the summit. If his visit takes place, it will mark his first trip to India since 2019.
Key Global Issues on BRICS Agenda
The two-day summit is expected to focus on strengthening multilateralism and reforms in global financial institutions.
Discussions are also expected on reforms in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, along with expanding the use of local currencies in trade.
Other issues on the agenda include supply chains, food security and green energy. Cooperation among BRICS countries and the role of the Global South are also expected to be important areas of discussion amid continuing tensions in West Asia.
