NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram has questioned what India has gained from recent Brics meetings, saying he has not seen any tangible benefits from the last two or three summits.With India set to host the Brics Summit 2026 in Delhi, Chidambaram said the country is part of several major international groupings but questioned whether they had delivered concrete gains for India.“I don’t know how many Presidents and how many Prime Ministers are coming. I don’t think the last two or three Brics summits have resulted in tangible benefits or tangible results,” Chidambaram told news agency ANI.“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 added.
BJP hits back at Congress
Reacting to Chidambaram’s remarks, BJP leader Nalin Kohli said it was surprising that the Congress leader had raised such questions at a time when India was preparing to host an important international event that would bring together several heads of state and government.“One is surprised to note the statement of Mr Chidambaram and the Congress Party, particularly at a time when India is hosting such an important event, the BRICS Summit, where many heads of state and heads of government will come, and there will be direct meetings also, one-on-one meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and these leaders,” Kohli said.Questioning the approach adopted by the Congress towards diplomacy, the BJP leader asked whether international engagement should be assessed merely in terms of immediate, transactional gains.“Is diplomacy to be seen as a transaction like the Congress Party is projecting? What have I done for you? What will you do for me? Kind of an approach. What is the so-called tangible result?” he said.Kohli then questioned the Congress party’s own diplomatic record from Independence until 2014.“If we talk of tangible results, we can question what the Congress Party’s entire approach from 1947 right up to 2014 was on diplomacy, including Sharm El Sheikh and peer projecting Pakistan as literally a victim of terror when it is the perpetrator of terror,” he stated.
Delhi steps up preparations
Chidambaram’s remarks came as authorities in the capital intensified preparations for the summit. Delhi Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar and PWD Principal Secretary Sandeep Kumar inspected key areas on Wednesday, including the summit venue and locations around Bharat Mandapam.Senior officials from both departments, including deputy commissioners from the concerned zones, accompanied them during the inspection.Khirwar reviewed sanitation and civic arrangements and directed officials to coordinate closely on cleanliness and other essential services.Officials were asked to carry out intensive cleaning and maintenance along summit routes, venues, adjoining areas, markets, roads, footpaths, green belts and other sensitive locations.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
Officials inspect key routes
The inspection also covered movement corridors in southeast Delhi, including Sarai Kale Khan, Lodhi Road and Nizamuddin, as well as Saket and Sheikh Sarai in south Delhi.Authorities were directed to deploy sufficient sanitation workers, machinery and supervisory staff during the final stage of preparations.Khirwar also called for visible improvements in enforcement, animal control, vector control, beautification, lighting and branding at identified locations.India is taking over the Brics chairship for the fourth time in 2026. The chairship is being guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, with a stated focus on a people-centric and humanity-first approach.
