'No tangible benefits': Chidambaram takes a BRICS jibe, draws BJP flak | India News - hindustantimes.com

**No tangible benefits**: Chidambaram’s BRICS jibe draws BJP flak *New Delhi, September 10 2026* – Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram sparked a fresh political row on Wednesday by declaring that India has “not seen any tangible benefits” from its participation in the BRICS grouping. Speaking at a press briefing after a parliamentary session, Chidambaram warned that the country’s continued investment of diplomatic capital and financial resources in the bloc had yet to yield measurable gains in trade, technology transfer or strategic leverage. “I didn’t see any benefits that justify the cost of our engagement,” he said, adding that the upcoming 2026 BRICS summit should be approached with a more pragmatic, interest‑based mindset.

The remark was met with swift rebuke from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Union Minister of State for External Affairs S. Jaishankar defended the alliance, citing the “steady rise in intra‑BRICS trade” and collaborative projects in renewable energy and digital infrastructure. BJP national spokesperson Ram Madhav, in particular, accused Chidambaram of indulging in a “naraz phupha” (petulant) attitude, arguing that the Congress party was attempting to politicise foreign policy for electoral mileage. Madhav also reminded the opposition that India was a founding member of BRICS and highlighted the bloc’s role in counterbalancing geopolitical pressures, especially in the context of strained ties with the United States and China.

Analysts note that the dispute reflects a broader contest over India’s diplomatic direction. While BRICS has facilitated some bilateral initiatives—such as the New Development Bank’s financing of Indian infrastructure projects—the coalition’s impact on India’s trade balance remains modest, with BRICS nations accounting for roughly 12 % of India’s total exports in the last fiscal year. The upcoming 2026 summit, slated to be hosted by India, will therefore be a litmus test for whether the partnership can translate into concrete economic and strategic dividends or remain a largely symbolic forum. As the debate continues, both parties appear poised to leverage the issue to underscore their respective foreign‑policy narratives ahead of the next general election.