Salman Khurshid Breaks Congress Party Line To Praise Modi Govt's BRICS Diplomacy: 'We Welcome Consensus'

Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Sunday praised the Indian government’s high-stakes diplomacy at the two-day BRICS Summit, three days after senior leader P Chidambaram questioned what India had achieved from the grouping. His remarks also came after Tharoor publicly rebutted Chidambaram’s criticism of BRICS.

Khurshid noted that a general consensus had been reached at the BRICS Summit and the New Delhi Declaration was issued. He said India had presented its concerns and foreign policy priorities, which were reflected in the final document.

“There are many points in the Delhi Declaration that may not have been easy to discuss. We should not forget who has signed the Delhi Declaration-Iran and the UAE, which are still in a state of war, along with

Russia and China. The declaration mentions Palestine and Gaza, and a consensus has been reached on this, which is a welcome development,” he told news agency IANS.

Khurshid Lauds Pahalgam Mention

The senior Congress leader specifically lauded the mention of the Pahalgam terror attack in the New Delhi Declaration. “If there is a consensus against terrorism anywhere and it is clearly stated, how can India not welcome it?” he said.

Khurshid emphasised that India had endured immense pain and anguish due to terrorism, adding that the consensus should move forward to ensure that the country does not face another attack.

“There were many countries that also have close relations with Pakistan. Yet, a consensus was reached. Pakistan was not named, but there was still a consensus on Pahalgam, which we welcome.”

Chidambaram’s Criticism Of BRICS

Khurshid’s remarks assume significance against the backdrop of Chidambaram’s criticism of BRICS outcomes. The former Home Minister had questioned whether India’s participation in the grouping had yielded “tangible benefits” for the country.

“In fact, we are part of BRICS, we are part of SCO, we are part of G20, and we are part of QUAD. What benefits are we getting out of that? I can’t see. In the last two or three summits, I didn’t see any benefits. Earlier, the BRICS Summits resulted in some tangible benefits,” he said.

The remarks triggered strong criticism from the BJP, which alleged that Congress tends to push back against national achievements whenever India’s standing on the global stage grows. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also reacted to the issue, saying India hosting the summit was “a matter of huge prestige”.

The remarks come at a time when India is seeking to position itself as a voice for the Global South while simultaneously managing relationships with countries that do not always share New Delhi’s position on major geopolitical questions.