Speaking to the media on October 26, Tharoor recalled the parliamentary delegations sent abroad after Operation Sindoor last year and said their interactions demonstrated the value of enabling parliamentarians from different countries to engage directly with one another.
“It is very important in many ways. This is an opportunity to showcase parliamentary diplomacy. Governments do all the official stuff. But when we went out last year with the parliamentary delegations after Operation Sindoor, everyone was telling us in the countries we went to how useful it was for them to be able to talk to MPs. They wanted an opportunity to connect with members of parliament from our country and have a dialogue which is at a different level, a little more informal than when you actually have government-to-government meetings,” Tharoor said.
He described the BRICS Parliamentary Forum as an important opportunity to strengthen such exchanges, noting that international engagement extends beyond official diplomatic channels and geopolitical considerations.
“I must say that this is an interesting opportunity for that... Not everything is about geopolitics or government-to-government relations. There is also a very important role that is played by parliamentarians,” he added.
Earlier on Monday, foreign delegations from BRICS member and partner countries arrived at the Parliament House complex in the national capital to attend the forum. Officials and Members of Parliament welcomed the foreign dignitaries.
Delegations from Uganda, Cuba, Brazil and Russia arrived at the Parliament complex. Russia and Brazil are full member countries of BRICS, while Uganda and Cuba were made partner countries in 2025.
Parliamentary delegations representing 11 member countries and 10 partner nations of BRICS arrived in New Delhi to participate in the two-day 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, hosted by the Parliament of India at the Parliament House complex.
The forum's inaugural ceremony commenced at 10:00 AM on Monday, with Lok Sabha Speaker and Forum Chairman Om Birla delivering the inaugural address.
The gathering provides a platform for parliamentarians from BRICS member and partner countries to engage directly, with Tharoor underscoring how such exchanges can complement formal diplomatic relations through dialogue between elected representatives.
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