Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has highlighted the diplomatic and global significance of BRICS after senior party leader P Chidambaram questioned the tangible benefits India has received from recent meetings of the grouping.

Speaking ahead of the BRICS summit in Delhi, Tharoor described BRICS as an important platform for the Global South and said hosting the summit was a matter of prestige for India. He also acknowledged challenges within the grouping, including differences among member countries and India’s trade imbalance with BRICS nations.

What Shashi Tharoor said about BRICS benefits

Tharoor said BRICS provides an important platform for the Global South. He pointed out that the grouping has 11 countries representing a majority of the world’s population and 41% of global GDP.

According to Tharoor, the size and diversity of the grouping make it significant on the global stage. He said the platform should therefore be taken seriously by other countries.

He also highlighted the importance of India hosting the BRICS summit. Tharoor said the presence of several heads of state and government, along with observers attending at the presidential and prime ministerial level, was a matter of prestige for India.

He linked the summit to India’s diplomatic convening power, saying that its value extends beyond immediate outcomes.

Tharoor flags challenges for BRICS

While listing the benefits, Tharoor also acknowledged that BRICS faces several challenges.

One of the key issues, according to him, is the difficulty of reaching a common position on major international developments. He pointed to differences over the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Tharoor noted that when BRICS foreign ministers met in New Delhi in May, the countries were unable to agree on a joint statement. India, as the chair, instead issued a chair’s declaration.

He said the ability of the grouping to reach consensus would remain an important challenge for diplomats.

India faces trade imbalance with BRICS countries

Tharoor also raised concerns about the economic side of BRICS.

He said trade among BRICS countries has been growing but argued that the trend has been disadvantageous for India. According to him, India’s exports to BRICS countries have declined while imports from those countries have increased.

This trade imbalance was presented as one of the practical concerns that India needs to consider while assessing its engagement with the grouping.

What P Chidambaram said about BRICS

Tharoor’s comments came a day after former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram questioned the tangible benefits India has received from recent BRICS summits.

Chidambaram said he did not think the last two or three BRICS meetings had produced significant tangible benefits or results for India.

He also pointed out that India participates in several multilateral groupings, including BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the G20 and the Quad, and questioned what concrete benefits the country had received from them.

The BJP criticised Chidambaram’s remarks and described him as part of the “naraaz phupha” group that, according to the party, could not accept India’s progress.

Why are BRICS benefits being debated?

The latest exchange highlights two sides of the BRICS debate.

Chidambaram has questioned whether the grouping has delivered enough concrete outcomes for India, while Tharoor has emphasised its diplomatic importance, its representation of the Global South and India’s ability to bring major countries together.

At the same time, Tharoor has acknowledged challenges related to consensus and India’s trade position within the grouping.

TTV Dhinakaran has strongly criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief Vijay over the controversy surrounding a jaw gesture made by Vijay in the state Assembly. Dhinakaran said Vijay may be a hero in films but described him as a “villain in real life”.

The remarks came amid a political row over Vijay’s gesture, which was interpreted by the DMK as a reference to MK Stalin’s jaw injury. Vijay has denied that the gesture was intentional and described his body language as an “accidental expression”.

Dhinakaran criticised Vijay’s conduct and said his words and body language indicated that he was not the person many people might have perceived him to be through his film career.

The AMMK chief said, “Vijay is a hero only in films. In real life, he is a big villain.”

He also accused Vijay of being self-centred and alleged that he could sacrifice others for his own interests. These were Dhinakaran’s political comments and allegations against the TVK chief.

The controversy began after Vijay made a gesture during proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that was interpreted as a reference to MK Stalin’s jaw injury.

Vijay later clarified that his body language was accidental and said the gesture was not intentional. However, the clarification did not end the controversy, with opposition from DMK leaders and other political figures continuing.

MK Stalin responded to the controversy by recalling his experience during the Emergency.

Stalin said he was arrested in 1976 after the DMK government led by M Karunanidhi was dismissed during the Emergency. He recalled alleged custodial violence and said his jawbone was broken during an assault in prison.

Stalin also rejected Vijay’s explanation and referred to the gesture pointing towards his jaw. He asked Vijay to learn about the history of Tamil Nadu and the DMK.

The controversy has also drawn criticism from leaders associated with Vijay’s political allies.

VCK chief Thirumavalavan and CPM state chief Shanmugam reportedly described the gesture as “body-shaming” and “irresponsible”.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has targeted the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government over the state’s drug problem and announced a statewide Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra from September 18 to 30.

Chadha alleged that drugs continue to remain easily available in Punjab, including through what he described as “home delivery”. He said the yatra would begin from four different locations across the state and would focus on the BJP’s roadmap to make Punjab drug-free.

Raghav Chadha targets Punjab government over drugs

Chadha questioned the Punjab government’s claim of having curbed the drug menace in the state. His remarks came in the context of the recent death of Gulzar Singh, who had reportedly raised concerns about the worsening drug situation.

Chadha alleged that Singh faced pressure and harassment after raising the issue and that this drove him to take his own life. These were allegations made by Chadha and should not be treated as established findings unless confirmed by the investigation.

Chadha also alleged that a BJP delegation was stopped from meeting Gulzar Singh’s family and offering condolences. He further claimed that drugs continued to be available through home delivery in Punjab.

Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra to begin September 18

The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra will be held from September 18 to 30, according to Chadha.

He said the yatra would start from four different locations in Punjab. During the campaign, the BJP plans to present its detailed roadmap and strategy for making the state drug-free.

The announcement comes as the drug issue becomes an increasingly important political issue ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections. The BJP is seeking to make the issue a major campaign point against the Mann government.

Chadha questions AAP’s claim on drug control

Taking aim at the AAP government, Chadha said Punjab had reached a situation where people were allegedly standing in queues for drugs in a manner comparable to queues for ration.

He questioned how the government could claim that the drug menace had been eliminated while making these allegations about continued drug availability.