Political reactions to BRICS Summit in India

The 18th BRICS Summit held in New Delhi has prompted various political critiques within India regarding both international outcomes and domestic governance.

Regarding the summit's international impact, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal described the BRICS grouping as a ‘motley’ collection of nations. He noted that while China appeared to benefit most, India successfully secured a joint declaration that avoided becoming an explicitly anti-Western bloc or calling for de-dollarization. Sibal also observed that the group's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict reflected shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Domestically, the summit faced criticism from the Samajwadi Party (SP). MP Awadhesh Prasad characterized the exclusion of Chief Ministers from opposition-ruled states from the summit as a “sign of the BJP’s anti-democratic mindset.” Additionally, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav argued that international forums should not be used as public relations exercises to mask domestic governance failures, emphasizing that true development requires protecting democratic freedoms.

In response to these criticisms, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi attacked the Congress party’s reaction, comparing the opposition to a ‘disgruntled uncle’ at a wedding. Trivedi argued that Congress focused on trivialities rather than the summit’s strategic significance. He defended the event as a major diplomatic success for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that the ‘Delhi Declaration’ was adopted by consensus and that the summit facilitated engagement between nations with historical differences, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, while addressing terrorism without linking it to any specific religion.