Tharoor breaks ranks with Chidambaram, backs BRICS Summit as ‘diplomatic power move’

The political row over Congress MP P Chidambaram's remarks on the BRICS Summit has taken a fresh turn, with party MP Shashi Tharoor breaking ranks to back the event and calling it proof of India's "diplomatic convening power”. Chidambaram on Tuesday stoked controversy when he questioned the tangible benefits India gained from such events. His remarks came under sharp criticisms from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which later raised questions on the Congress’ approach to diplomacy. Speaking to news agency PTI on Thursday, Tharoor said: “First of all, we're providing an important platform for the Global South. You know, the Global South is over 100 countries, but here we have 11 key players from the Global South who collectively represent much of the diversity of views, as well as the range of countries that we are essentially chairing on this particular occasion.