Congress Attacks BRICS Summit: Why Shashi Tharoor Questioned Chidambaram's Skeptical Stance?

The Indian National Congress has launched a comprehensive critique against the Modi government regarding the BRICS Summit, raising significant questions about India's foreign policy, its relationship with China, and its role in the West Asia crisis. While the party leadership has been vocal in its criticism, internal differences have surfaced, most notably between senior leaders P. Chidambaram and Shashi Tharoor, while the debate centers on whether India is gaining any strategic or tangible benefits from its participation in such high-profile international forums.

Chidambaram Questions Tangible Benefits

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram expressed skepticism regarding the outcomes of the recent BRICS summits. He pointed out that over the last 2 to 3 summits, there have been no visible or tangible benefits for the country. Chidambaram noted that while India is a member of several prestigious groups including BRICS, SCO, G20, and QUAD, the actual gains from these memberships remain unclear. He contrasted the current situation with previous summits where, according to him, there were clear and measurable advantages for India. This critique suggests a perceived decline in the effectiveness of India's multilateral diplomacy under the current administration.

Tharoor Defends the Summit as a Diplomatic Honor

In a notable departure from Chidambaram's stance, Shashi Tharoor described the hosting and participation in the BRICS Summit as a matter of great honor and diplomatic capability for India. Tharoor emphasized that BRICS represents a significant portion of the world's population and a substantial share of the global GDP. His comments highlighted the importance of the platform as a representative of the Global South, suggesting that India's presence in such a forum is inherently valuable. This internal disagreement has been characterized by the BJP as a sign of confusion within the Congress party, with the ruling party labeling the opposition's attitude as that of a disgruntled relative who can't digest India's global progress.

Salman Khurshid on Diplomatic Space and West Asia

Salman Khurshid, the head of Congress's foreign affairs cell, stated that India should use its BRICS chairmanship to restore its historical diplomatic prestige and space. The party alleged that the government's role in the West Asia crisis has been limited. There is a perception that India's stance might be seen as supporting or consenting to attacks on Iran, which is a fellow BRICS member. Also, the Congress pointed out that other members like South Africa didn't receive adequate support, while khurshid demanded that declarations must be followed by concrete actions, emphasizing the need for moral leadership and strategic clarity.

Demands for Strategic and Economic Reforms

The Congress party has put forward several demands to strengthen India's position within BRICS.

Concerns Over China Policy and Trade Deficit

A major part of the Congress's attack focused on India's relations with China, while the party raised questions about the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping, specifically regarding the border disputes in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. They also highlighted the alleged role of China in Operation Sindoor and expressed deep concern over the growing trade deficit with China, which stands at approximately 112 billion dollars. The Congress argued that the government has made concessions on the border and that the increasing economic dependence on China is dangerous. They demanded that the Prime Minister clearly state the requirement for China to vacate Indian territory.

Controversies Over Menu and Local Issues

The Congress party, including Rahul Gandhi, also raised objections to certain organizational aspects of the summit, while they criticized the decision to serve only a vegetarian menu to foreign guests. On top of that, the party attacked the government for allegedly hiding slums behind green curtains during the event, while they also questioned the condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, noting that the names of the perpetrators weren't mentioned. On top of that, when the Bandung Spirit from the Nehru era was mentioned, the Congress shared Nehru's historical notes as a sarcastic reminder of the past diplomatic legacy.

The Legacy of the Global South

The Congress party maintains that it accepts BRICS as a vital platform for the Global South. They reminded the public that the proposal for the New Development Bank was initiated during the tenure of Manmohan Singh. However, the party's current allegation is that the existing government is failing to work with this platform strategically and appears weak in its policies regarding China and West Asia. While the BJP dismisses these claims as negativity, the Congress continues to push for a more assertive and transparent foreign policy.