Salman Khurshid Urges Centre to Include Opposition in India's BRICS Consultations

Salman Khurshid Calls for Opposition Participation

Former Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has called on the Narendra Modi government to include the Opposition in India's consultations on BRICS.

Khurshid's remarks come at a significant moment as India hosts the BRICS Leaders' Summit in New Delhi. The 2026 summit is taking place amid tensions in West Asia, global trade disruptions and growing discussions over reforms to international financial institutions.

Why Khurshid Wants Wider Consultation

Khurshid's appeal reflects the argument that foreign policy issues with long-term strategic implications should not be limited to discussions within the government.

According to the former External Affairs Minister, involving Opposition parties could help build greater political consensus on India's position within BRICS and strengthen the country's negotiating position on the international stage.

The call also comes amid a wider domestic debate over India's foreign-policy priorities and the country's role in emerging multilateral groupings.

India Hosts BRICS Summit in New Delhi

India is hosting the 2026 BRICS Leaders' Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. The expanded grouping now includes 11 member countries and represents nearly half of the world's population and around 40% of the global economy by purchasing power parity.

The summit is expected to focus on economic cooperation, trade, financial reforms, global governance and strengthening cooperation among emerging economies.

India's presidency also comes as BRICS seeks to expand its role in global economic and political affairs while managing differences among its increasingly diverse membership.

BRICS Faces Major Global Challenges

The summit is being held against the backdrop of conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, strained relations between major powers and uncertainty surrounding global trade.

BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors have recently called for reforms to institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. They have also backed efforts to improve cross-border payment systems and cooperation among member economies.

These developments have increased the strategic importance of India's BRICS presidency and intensified discussions about how New Delhi should shape the group's future agenda.

Debate Over India's BRICS Strategy

Khurshid's comments come amid a broader political debate over the benefits India derives from BRICS.

Congress leader P. Chidambaram recently questioned whether India had received significant tangible benefits from the last two or three BRICS summits. His remarks triggered criticism from BJP leaders, highlighting differences within the political discourse over India's engagement with the grouping.

At the same time, other Congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor, have highlighted BRICS' growing importance and India's opportunity to engage with the Global South. This has resulted in visible differences within the Opposition over how India's BRICS role should be assessed.

Opposition Role in Foreign Policy

Khurshid's demand for consultations highlights a recurring question in Indian politics: how much consensus should exist between the government and Opposition on major foreign-policy matters.

Supporters of wider consultation argue that involving different political parties can create continuity in foreign policy and ensure that strategic decisions enjoy broader democratic backing.

For the government, however, BRICS negotiations involve complex diplomatic considerations that require flexibility and confidentiality. The balance between political consultation and diplomatic decision-making therefore remains important.

India's Growing Role in BRICS

As the current BRICS chair, India is seeking to position the grouping as a platform for economic cooperation, Global South engagement and reforms in global governance.

The expanded BRICS now has greater economic and demographic weight, but its members also have differing geopolitical interests. Analysts have noted divisions within the group over issues including relations with the United States, China, Russia and the ongoing conflicts in West Asia.

This makes India's ability to build consensus among members an important test of its BRICS leadership.

Conclusion

Salman Khurshid's call to include the Opposition in India's BRICS consultations has added a domestic political dimension to the country's ongoing BRICS diplomacy.

With India hosting the summit amid geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty and discussions on reforming global financial institutions, the government's approach to BRICS is attracting increasing political attention.

The demand for wider consultations reflects the broader debate over whether India's foreign policy should be shaped through greater political consensus, particularly when the country is taking on a prominent leadership role in a rapidly expanding global grouping.