BJP accuses Congress of negativity over BRICS Summit, cites 2011-12 articles

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday accused the Congress and other Opposition parties of fostering a negative atmosphere around the upcoming BRICS Summit, saying they were unable to accept India's growing global standing.

In a video message, BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra contrasted India's present position in the bloc with its situation in 2011-12, when the Congress-led UPA was in power. He said that while the "I" in BRIC had appeared to be "turning shaky" during that period, India is now among the strongest partners of the grouping.

"Today, India has found its position in the global arena as never before," Mr. Patra said, adding that all BRICS heads of state are in India and the country is celebrating the bloc as never before.

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. A day before the BJP's remarks, the Congress had questioned the benefits of hosting the summit.

Mr. Patra cited two newspaper articles from 2011 and 2012 to support his argument. Referring to a 2012 piece based on comments by global financial services firm Goldman Sachs, he said its headline described India as the least attractive BRICS member in valuation terms. He quoted Jim O'Neill, then chairman of Goldman Sachs, as ranking China first, Brazil second, Russia third and India fourth, and as saying that India was relatively the least attractive in valuation terms.

Mr. Patra said the article's concluding line suggested it would not be a surprise if Indonesia replaced India, as Indonesia had moved far ahead. He summed up its essence as indicating that in 2012 there were no meaningful reforms in India, the country was falling behind, inflation was high, and the Indian market ranked at the bottom among the BRIC nations.

The second article, published on September 21, 2011, he said, carried the headline "With high inflation and weak currency, India not like other BRIC countries." Quoting from it, Mr. Patra said inflation in India was the worst among the so-called BRIC nations, the current account deficit was a concern, the fiscal deficit was a worry, and fresh investments were stalled despite creaky infrastructure. The piece, he added, observed that BRIC was weakening and the "I" in it turning shaky, probably for the first time in a decade since Mr. O'Neill coined the acronym.

"And yet, we have some politicians and some Opposition leaders who are not able to digest this," Mr. Patra said. "Today, some members of the Opposition and the Congress party are unable to digest India's progress because India is moving forward."

He said the Congress and some Opposition parties were trying to spread negativity around the summit and needed to be shown a mirror.