'Not All 'Hijabs' Are Unacceptable To BJP': Pawan Khera Takes Dig At Centre Over Slums Ahead Of BRICS Summit

A political row has erupted over the covering of slum clusters and low-income neighbourhoods along some key routes in the national capital ahead of the BRICS Summit, with Congress leader Pawan Khera accusing the BJP-led Centre of trying to hide the city’s poorer neighbourhoods from visiting foreign leaders.

Khera took a sharp swipe at the government after large curtains and temporary barricades were put up at several locations to screen off areas along important routes being used during the high-profile summit.

Taking the issue to social media, the Congress leader used the BJP’s political arguments over the hijab to attack the government. “Not all ‘hijabs’ are unacceptable to the BJP. The one that veils Modi’s failures is their favourite,” Khera said in a post on X.

The remark has added a political dimension to what might otherwise have been seen as part of the city’s preparations for an international summit. Khera alleged that instead of confronting issues such as poverty and poor living conditions, the government was choosing to conceal them from international visitors.

The BRICS Summit is being hosted by India on September 12 and 13 under the country’s 2026 chairship. India has placed resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability among the key themes of its presidency, with the grouping also focusing on development and the interests of the Global South.

The controversy comes as Delhi has been extensively prepared for the arrival of leaders and senior officials from BRICS member countries. The screening of settlements has nevertheless drawn attention because the areas being covered are home to communities that form a visible part of the capital’s social and economic landscape.

Khera’s criticism reflects a broader political argument over how India presents itself during major international events. While governments routinely undertake beautification, security and traffic-management measures before global summits, opposition parties often question whether such preparations also risk hiding uncomfortable realities.

The Congress leader’s remarks have therefore turned the curtains and barricades into a larger debate over poverty, urban inequality and the image India projects to the world while hosting one of the most important diplomatic gatherings of the year.