‘Infighting within Congress’: NDA after Shashi Tharoor contradicts Chidambaram’s BRICS remark

New Delhi: Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) said on Friday that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor contradicting the previous remarks made by senior party leader P. Chidambaram regarding the BRICS Summit, “exposes the infighting” within the grand old party.

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram triggered a row by questioning the tangible economic and strategic benefits India had derived from its participation in BRICS and saying that he had not seen any significant outcomes emerging from the recent meetings of the bloc.

However, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor defended relevance of the BRICS summit, saying the grouping provides an important platform for the Global South and demonstrates India’s diplomatic convening power.

Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said: “Two people from the same party are making statements that contradict each other. Shashi Tharoorji was absolutely right in saying that BRICS provides a global platform where we can strengthen our mutual relations with different countries, whether economic, social or strategic.”

Questioning whether summits like the BRICS were not held during Chidambaram’s tenure as Union Minister, Khandelwal added: “Back then, Chidambaram recognised the relevance of such conferences, but today, because he is in the Opposition, he is raising questions about them. This clearly exposes his double standards before the country.”

Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde added: “Tensions within the Congress party have increased significantly, as former Union Minister P. Chidambaram made an incorrect statement claiming BRICS is of no benefit, thereby attempting to damage India’s global image. Meanwhile, his party colleague, MP Shashi Tharoor stated that BRICS provides a valuable platform with immense benefits for India.”

“It highlights deep internal disagreements among Congress leaders who seem unable to agree with one another,” he remarked.

Reiterating a previous remark by Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed at the Opposition, BJP leader RP Singh likened P Chidambaram to ‘naraz fufa’.

“He (P. Chidambaram) has to find faults in everything,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena-UBT spokesperson Anand Dubey said: “Politics should not be done over this issue. In any case, the BRICS Summit will be beneficial to India.”

IANS