News Analysis India

Tag: G20

  • Putin to skip G20 Summit in Delhi, prepare for ‘special military operation’

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be travelling to Delhi to attend the G-20 summit, the Kremlin has confirmed.

    “President Putin is not planning a trip to the G20 Summit in India. His main emphasis is now a special military operation,” said President Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

    As of now, the G20 Summit will be totally an in-person event, and no hybrid facility is open for people who do not attend in person. Unless there is an exception provided for President Putin to attend the Summit virtually (if it happens that will be a last-minute announcement), Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, who will attend the Summit on Putin’s behalf will be a part of the meetings — like he did was during the last Summit in Bali.

    At present a few country leaders — US, Australia, Italy, Canada and South Korea — have confirmed their in-person participation. While PM Albanese was the first to confirm his participation, President Biden’s confirmation came just two days back.

    Since India is not a signatory of the International Criminal Court (ICC), President Putin would not have been arrested on his arrival. So, that is not the reason for him deciding again visiting Delhi. However, after the brief Wagner coup and the recent death of Wagner’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in an air crash, there is a lot Putin needs to handle on the home turf.

    “The speculation on President Putin being behind the ill-fated air crash is baseless. These are all total lies,” Peskov said adding that Putin had said all necessary evaluations will be conducted including DNA tests of passengers on board.

    Meanwhile, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President, Voldomyr Zelenskyy said that he was disappointed that Zelenskyy was excluded from the list of invites for the G20 Summit in Delhi.

    Russia, in the meantime, will have a busy year ahead as it has just taken over the chairship of the BRICS group and will host the next Summit in Kazan next year. With six additional countries that will become full-time members in January 2024, there is a lot that Russia would do to make the 16th BRICS Summit a success, a source added.

    NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be travelling to Delhi to attend the G-20 summit, the Kremlin has confirmed.

    “President Putin is not planning a trip to the G20 Summit in India. His main emphasis is now a special military operation,” said President Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

    As of now, the G20 Summit will be totally an in-person event, and no hybrid facility is open for people who do not attend in person. Unless there is an exception provided for President Putin to attend the Summit virtually (if it happens that will be a last-minute announcement), Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, who will attend the Summit on Putin’s behalf will be a part of the meetings — like he did was during the last Summit in Bali.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    At present a few country leaders — US, Australia, Italy, Canada and South Korea — have confirmed their in-person participation. While PM Albanese was the first to confirm his participation, President Biden’s confirmation came just two days back.

    Since India is not a signatory of the International Criminal Court (ICC), President Putin would not have been arrested on his arrival. So, that is not the reason for him deciding again visiting Delhi. However, after the brief Wagner coup and the recent death of Wagner’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in an air crash, there is a lot Putin needs to handle on the home turf.

    “The speculation on President Putin being behind the ill-fated air crash is baseless. These are all total lies,” Peskov said adding that Putin had said all necessary evaluations will be conducted including DNA tests of passengers on board.

    Meanwhile, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President, Voldomyr Zelenskyy said that he was disappointed that Zelenskyy was excluded from the list of invites for the G20 Summit in Delhi.

    Russia, in the meantime, will have a busy year ahead as it has just taken over the chairship of the BRICS group and will host the next Summit in Kazan next year. With six additional countries that will become full-time members in January 2024, there is a lot that Russia would do to make the 16th BRICS Summit a success, a source added.

  • India slams UN’s prejudiced remark on G20 in Srinagar

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  India has snubbed the UN special rapporteur (SR) on minority issues, who questioned India hosting G20 meeting in Srinagar which, he alleged, was a denial of democratic rights of Kashmiri minorities.

    “We, India at the UN in Geneva strongly reject the statement issued by SR on minority issues, Dr Fernand de Varennes, on the baseless and unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 president, it is India’s prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country. We are aghast that Fernand has acted irresponsibly to politicise this issue, misused his position as SR to publicise on social media his presumptive and prejudiced conclusions in a gross violation of the Code of Conduct for SRs,’’ said India at UN.

    The SR has made allegations that India is attempting to show that situation as normal in Kashmir.  “Holding a G20 meeting in Kashmir while human rights violations are ongoing…,” special rapporteur has alleged. He went on to further state that G20 should be used to uphold human rights. “G20 should on the contrary uphold ‘International human rights obligations and the UN declaration of human rights should be upheld and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of the meeting,” SR added.

    India has the ongoing presidency of G20 under which it is hosting over 200 meetings across different states across the country.  The upcoming G20 meeting in Srinagar (May 22-24th) had earlier elicited a comment by Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto during his visit for the SCO meet in Goa. External affairs minister S Jaishankar had issued a befitting rebuttal.

    “Jammu and Kashmir was, in and will always be an integral part of India and we are free to host whatever events we want to in our territory,’’ the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has always maintained. The UN Special Rapporteur alleged that the government is “seeking to normalise what some have described as a military occupation by instrumentalising a G20 meeting.

    NEW DELHI:  India has snubbed the UN special rapporteur (SR) on minority issues, who questioned India hosting G20 meeting in Srinagar which, he alleged, was a denial of democratic rights of Kashmiri minorities.

    “We, India at the UN in Geneva strongly reject the statement issued by SR on minority issues, Dr Fernand de Varennes, on the baseless and unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 president, it is India’s prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country. We are aghast that Fernand has acted irresponsibly to politicise this issue, misused his position as SR to publicise on social media his presumptive and prejudiced conclusions in a gross violation of the Code of Conduct for SRs,’’ said India at UN.

    The SR has made allegations that India is attempting to show that situation as normal in Kashmir.  “Holding a G20 meeting in Kashmir while human rights violations are ongoing…,” special rapporteur 
    has alleged. He went on to further state that G20 should be used to uphold human rights. “G20 should on the contrary uphold ‘International human rights obligations and the UN declaration of human rights should be upheld and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of the meeting,” SR added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    India has the ongoing presidency of G20 under which it is hosting over 200 meetings across different states across the country.  The upcoming G20 meeting in Srinagar (May 22-24th) had earlier elicited a comment by Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto during his visit for the SCO meet in Goa. External affairs minister S Jaishankar had issued a befitting rebuttal.

    “Jammu and Kashmir was, in and will always be an integral part of India and we are free to host whatever events we want to in our territory,’’ the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has always maintained. 
    The UN Special Rapporteur alleged that the government is “seeking to normalise what some have described as a military occupation by instrumentalising a G20 meeting.

  • G20 should keep eye on J-K situation: Cong; PDP says govt wants to project ‘all is well in Kashmir’

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Opposition Congress and PDP on Monday said the government wanted to falsely project normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir by holding a G20 event while there was an “emergency-like situation” in the Union Territory.

    “The G20 countries should also internally keep an eye on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The democracy has been wiped out here, there is an emergency-like situation created by the BJP,” Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani told reporters at a party function here.

    He said the government has destroyed the roads in the city and now is putting up hoardings to impress the G20 delegates.

    “They are showing the roads to the G20, roads have been destroyed, now only pictures are being put up–the G20 should also know about the internal situation in J-K, the lack of democracy, the absence of an (elected) assembly, snatching of the statehood and the division of the state,”  Wani said.

    Wani claimed that he was denied permission to hold public rallies in the Valley but the BJP’s like-minded parties are continuously allowed to do so.

    “We had applied for permission to hold rallies at Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara and Kishtwar but permission was not granted. Other parties like Apni party and DPAP are getting permissions continuously,” he said.

    Wani said it was evident that the government has failed to improve the situation in J and K.

    “(Union Home Minister) Amit Shah claims to have ended terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. But there is no decrease in target killings. In one month, we have lost 10 soldiers in Rajouri. The BJP only uses Kashmir for election campaigns,” he alleged.

    PDP leader Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said while holding the G20 working group meeting in Kashmir may boost tourism in the valley, the government’s main aim was to falsely project normalcy in the Union Territory.

    “Holding G20 event is good and it may help to boost tourism here. However, there is no change in the ground situation, particularly after the revocation of Article 370. I think by holding a G20 event here in Kashmir, they want to convey a message globally that all is well in Kashmir,” Hanjura told reporters here.

    The PDP general secretary said the situation on the ground was ‘not good’ as two incidents of militancy-related violence happened in Rajouri and Poonch.

    “Firstly, I strongly condemn the incidents. It should not happen because the PDP believes guns are not the solution. Issues can be resolved through talks but unfortunately, the BJP government cannot digest this. They are not ready for talks. Even, for instance, if war prevails for 100 years, ultimately the solution is through dialogue,” he added.

    Hajura said the people in Kashmir were facing problems as authorities have tightened the security measures ahead of the G20 meeting.

    On demands for another surgical strike on Pakistan, he said, “After the first surgical strike, the situation is as it was. Gun is not the solution the PDP advocates dialogue only. India and Pakistan should come on table for talks along with stakeholders to find a solution.”

    In response to a question on the involvement of locals in the pooch incident, Hanjura said, “That’s the duty of security agencies. If anyone is involved, he should be punished.”

    He, however, questioned how the incident took place in such a huge presence of security forces.

    “The BJP is answerable for that. They claim that they made the situation better here, stone pelting is not happening, militancy is over,” he said.

    On the spat between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan on the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Hanjura said, “They (two countries) should bring down the bitterness and overcome the hatred. I think Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should not have said what he said and the response he got was also not valid.”

    The third G20 tourism working group meeting will be held in Kashmir between May 22 and 24.

    SRINAGAR: Opposition Congress and PDP on Monday said the government wanted to falsely project normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir by holding a G20 event while there was an “emergency-like situation” in the Union Territory.

    “The G20 countries should also internally keep an eye on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The democracy has been wiped out here, there is an emergency-like situation created by the BJP,” Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani told reporters at a party function here.

    He said the government has destroyed the roads in the city and now is putting up hoardings to impress the G20 delegates.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “They are showing the roads to the G20, roads have been destroyed, now only pictures are being put up–the G20 should also know about the internal situation in J-K, the lack of democracy, the absence of an (elected) assembly, snatching of the statehood and the division of the state,”  Wani said.

    Wani claimed that he was denied permission to hold public rallies in the Valley but the BJP’s like-minded parties are continuously allowed to do so.

    “We had applied for permission to hold rallies at Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara and Kishtwar but permission was not granted. Other parties like Apni party and DPAP are getting permissions continuously,” he said.

    Wani said it was evident that the government has failed to improve the situation in J and K.

    “(Union Home Minister) Amit Shah claims to have ended terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. But there is no decrease in target killings. In one month, we have lost 10 soldiers in Rajouri. The BJP only uses Kashmir for election campaigns,” he alleged.

    PDP leader Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said while holding the G20 working group meeting in Kashmir may boost tourism in the valley, the government’s main aim was to falsely project normalcy in the Union Territory.

    “Holding G20 event is good and it may help to boost tourism here. However, there is no change in the ground situation, particularly after the revocation of Article 370. I think by holding a G20 event here in Kashmir, they want to convey a message globally that all is well in Kashmir,” Hanjura told reporters here.

    The PDP general secretary said the situation on the ground was ‘not good’ as two incidents of militancy-related violence happened in Rajouri and Poonch.

    “Firstly, I strongly condemn the incidents. It should not happen because the PDP believes guns are not the solution. Issues can be resolved through talks but unfortunately, the BJP government cannot digest this. They are not ready for talks. Even, for instance, if war prevails for 100 years, ultimately the solution is through dialogue,” he added.

    Hajura said the people in Kashmir were facing problems as authorities have tightened the security measures ahead of the G20 meeting.

    On demands for another surgical strike on Pakistan, he said, “After the first surgical strike, the situation is as it was. Gun is not the solution the PDP advocates dialogue only. India and Pakistan should come on table for talks along with stakeholders to find a solution.”

    In response to a question on the involvement of locals in the pooch incident, Hanjura said, “That’s the duty of security agencies. If anyone is involved, he should be punished.”

    He, however, questioned how the incident took place in such a huge presence of security forces.

    “The BJP is answerable for that. They claim that they made the situation better here, stone pelting is not happening, militancy is over,” he said.

    On the spat between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan on the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Hanjura said, “They (two countries) should bring down the bitterness and overcome the hatred. I think Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should not have said what he said and the response he got was also not valid.”

    The third G20 tourism working group meeting will be held in Kashmir between May 22 and 24.

  • Farooq attacks Centre for not holding G20 meet in Jammu, settlement of locals

    By PTI

    JAMMU: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday attacked the government, saying it is unfortunate that G20 meetings were scheduled in Ladakh and Kashmir but not in Jammu, and slammed BJP leaders for not raising the issue.

    He also opposed the settlement of non-locals in Jammu and claimed that the Dogra identity is under threat.

    “It is very unfortunate that G20 meeting can be held in Ladakh and Kashmir but not in Jammu. Is Jammu not important? It is sad that not a single BJP leader, even those who chanted ‘Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Dogra, Dogra, Dogra’ raised the issue. They have taken Jammu for granted believing that it is in their pocket,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a NC function at its headquarters here.

    Asked about the public notice issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board seeking online applications from people, who have migrated to Jammu temporarily or permanently, for allotment of 336 flats under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission here, he said.

    “It shows what we have been saying all the time that demographic change is being brought about. Jammu is going to lose its identity, the Dogra identity is going to disappear and that is what Maharaja (Hari Singh — the last Dogra ruler) fought against. It was not (NC founder) Sheikh Abdullah or our party that brought that (state subject) law in 1927 for job and land protection. He (Maharaja) wanted his culture and identity to remain intact, Abdullah said. He said if outsiders are settled here, where will the locals go.”

    “They want to vanish this (Dogra) identity and it is very surprising that not a single BJP leader speaks about it. The people from outside will settle here and take our land and jobs slowly,” the NC leader said.

    On the April 20 terrorist attack on an army truck in Poonch district that left five soldiers dead, Abdullah said contrary to the BJP’s claims, terrorism is still alive in Jammu and Kashmir. “Has terrorism been ever finished? They were claiming that terrorism is finished with the abrogation of Article 370 (in 2019). There is no Article 370 (now) but terrorism is still there,” the former chief minister said, adding that “terrorism had heightened in the region”.

    In 2019, the Centre had abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

    He said the killing of the five soldiers is a “shame for us and we regret the loss”.

    Supporting casual and need-based workers seeking regularisation, the NC leader said “The world is celebrating labour day and they (the administration) should think about the plight of these workers and how they are running the affairs of their families in the present times of high inflation”.

    JAMMU: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday attacked the government, saying it is unfortunate that G20 meetings were scheduled in Ladakh and Kashmir but not in Jammu, and slammed BJP leaders for not raising the issue.

    He also opposed the settlement of non-locals in Jammu and claimed that the Dogra identity is under threat.

    “It is very unfortunate that G20 meeting can be held in Ladakh and Kashmir but not in Jammu. Is Jammu not important? It is sad that not a single BJP leader, even those who chanted ‘Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Dogra, Dogra, Dogra’ raised the issue. They have taken Jammu for granted believing that it is in their pocket,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a NC function at its headquarters here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Asked about the public notice issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board seeking online applications from people, who have migrated to Jammu temporarily or permanently, for allotment of 336 flats under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission here, he said.

    “It shows what we have been saying all the time that demographic change is being brought about. Jammu is going to lose its identity, the Dogra identity is going to disappear and that is what Maharaja (Hari Singh — the last Dogra ruler) fought against. It was not (NC founder) Sheikh Abdullah or our party that brought that (state subject) law in 1927 for job and land protection. He (Maharaja) wanted his culture and identity to remain intact, Abdullah said. He said if outsiders are settled here, where will the locals go.”

    “They want to vanish this (Dogra) identity and it is very surprising that not a single BJP leader speaks about it. The people from outside will settle here and take our land and jobs slowly,” the NC leader said.

    On the April 20 terrorist attack on an army truck in Poonch district that left five soldiers dead, Abdullah said contrary to the BJP’s claims, terrorism is still alive in Jammu and Kashmir. “Has terrorism been ever finished? They were claiming that terrorism is finished with the abrogation of Article 370 (in 2019). There is no Article 370 (now) but terrorism is still there,” the former chief minister said, adding that “terrorism had heightened in the region”.

    In 2019, the Centre had abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

    He said the killing of the five soldiers is a “shame for us and we regret the loss”.

    Supporting casual and need-based workers seeking regularisation, the NC leader said “The world is celebrating labour day and they (the administration) should think about the plight of these workers and how they are running the affairs of their families in the present times of high inflation”.

  • Pakistan cries foul over India’s decision to hold G20 meeting in Srinagar

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Pakistan has cried foul over India’s decision to host a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir.

    In a statement, Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said, “Pakistan expresses its strong indignation over India’s decision to hold the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May 2023.”

    The meeting comes as India has taken up the G20 Presidency this year and this will be the first international event to be held in Srinagar since the abrogation of Article 370.

    “India’s irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and the international law. Pakistan vehemently condemns these moves,” Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry statement said.

    ALSO READ | Ukraine minister says India a vishwaguru, seeks help to rebuild war-torn country

    India has not issued any response to this statement. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has in the past always reaffirmed that Kashmir is an integral part of India and no other country has any right to comment on what happens there.

    “With its decision to host G-20 events in IOJK (Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir), India is again exploiting its membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda,” the Pakistani statement added.

    “For a country that has a grandiose vision about itself and its place in the world, India has repeatedly demonstrated that it is unable to act as a responsible member of the international community,” says the press release issued by Pakistan.

    Political and diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have been downgraded since the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir. On various UN platforms, Pakistan tries to rake up the Kashmir issue and India always gives a befitting rebuttal.

    NEW DELHI: Pakistan has cried foul over India’s decision to host a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir.

    In a statement, Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said, “Pakistan expresses its strong indignation over India’s decision to hold the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May 2023.”

    The meeting comes as India has taken up the G20 Presidency this year and this will be the first international event to be held in Srinagar since the abrogation of Article 370.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “India’s irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and the international law. Pakistan vehemently condemns these moves,” Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry statement said.

    ALSO READ | Ukraine minister says India a vishwaguru, seeks help to rebuild war-torn country

    India has not issued any response to this statement. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has in the past always reaffirmed that Kashmir is an integral part of India and no other country has any right to comment on what happens there.

    “With its decision to host G-20 events in IOJK (Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir), India is again exploiting its membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda,” the Pakistani statement added.

    “For a country that has a grandiose vision about itself and its place in the world, India has repeatedly demonstrated that it is unable to act as a responsible member of the international community,” says the press release issued by Pakistan.

    Political and diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have been downgraded since the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir. On various UN platforms, Pakistan tries to rake up the Kashmir issue and India always gives a befitting rebuttal.

  • G20 foreign ministers’ meet could not agree on joint communique 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on Thursday was unable to come out with a joint communique due to sharp differences over the Ukraine conflict despite persistent efforts by host India to build consensus.

    The meeting, held under India’s presidency, adopted a Chair’s Summary and Outcome document.

    There were issues relating to the Ukraine conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said at a media briefing.

    Several diplomats said there were deep divisions between the US-led West and the Russia-China combine over the Ukraine conflict.

    Jaishankar said there were “polarised views” on the issue.

    ALSO READ  | G20 talks end in India without consensus on Ukraine war

    The external affairs minister said the Outcome Document and the Chair’s Summary reflected the G20’s resolve to deal with pressing global challenges.

    There was a large number of issues where there was agreement, he said.

    Jaishankar also said the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting unequivocally condemned terrorism.

    NEW DELHI: The G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on Thursday was unable to come out with a joint communique due to sharp differences over the Ukraine conflict despite persistent efforts by host India to build consensus.

    The meeting, held under India’s presidency, adopted a Chair’s Summary and Outcome document.

    There were issues relating to the Ukraine conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said at a media briefing.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    Several diplomats said there were deep divisions between the US-led West and the Russia-China combine over the Ukraine conflict.

    Jaishankar said there were “polarised views” on the issue.

    ALSO READ  | G20 talks end in India without consensus on Ukraine war

    The external affairs minister said the Outcome Document and the Chair’s Summary reflected the G20’s resolve to deal with pressing global challenges.

    There was a large number of issues where there was agreement, he said.

    Jaishankar also said the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting unequivocally condemned terrorism.

  • ‘Global governance has failed’: Indian PM Modi at G20 meet

    By AFP

    NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Thursday for the G20 to bridge differences over Ukraine, telling the opening of a meeting in New Delhi that global governance has “failed”.

    “The experience of the last few years -– financial crisis, climate change, pandemic, terrorism and wars — clearly shows that global governance has failed,” Modi said in a recorded statement opening the meeting of G20 foreign ministers.

    “We are meeting at a time of deep global divisions… We all have our positions and our perspectives on how these tensions (can) be resolved. However, as the leading economies of the world, we also have a responsibility for those who are not in this room,” Modi said.

    India had wanted its G20 presidency this year to focus on issues such as alleviating poverty and climate finance, but the Ukraine war has so far crowded out other agenda items.

    The gathering will see US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the same room for the first time since July, but the two men are unlikely to hold talks.

    Western delegates fear China is considering supplying arms to its Russian ally and they will use the foreign ministers’ summit to discourage Beijing from intervening in the conflict.

    India’s longstanding security ties with Russia have put the host of Thursday’s meeting in an awkward diplomatic position after refusing to condemn the invasion over the past year.

    Addressing the Opening Segment of G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting. @g20org https://t.co/s73ypWruBf
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2023
    But EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was confident India would use the meeting to “make Russia understand that this war has to finish”.

    “Certainly the success of the meeting today will be measured in respect to what we will be able to do on that,” he told reporters Wednesday.

    Borrell will meet on the sidelines of the New Delhi summit with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, where he will seek assurances that Beijing will not lend support to Russia’s war effort.

    “Until now, the answer has been clearly stated by China, ‘it hasn’t happened and it won’t happen,’ but we have to remain vigilant,” said a senior EU official with knowledge of the matter.

    Chinese state news agency Xinhua last week quoted top diplomat Wang Yi as saying Beijing was willing to “strengthen strategic coordination” with Russia after meeting Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

    ‘Zero evidence’

    Blinken said he had no plans to meet with either the Russian or Chinese foreign ministers at the G20 summit.

    The last time Blinken and Lavrov were in the same room, at a G20 meeting in Bali last July, the latter stormed out according to Western officials.

    “If Russia — President Putin — were genuinely prepared to engage in meaningful diplomacy necessary to end the aggression, of course we’d be the first to work to engage, but there’s zero evidence of that,” Blinken said.

    Blinken had a fiery encounter with Wang last month in Germany after the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over its east coast on February 4.

    Lavrov intends to use his G20 attendance to lambast Western countries over the conflict, according to a Russian foreign ministry statement.

    Western nations want to “take revenge for the inevitable disappearance of the levers of dominance from its hands”, the ministry said Tuesday.

    “The destructive policy of the US and its allies has already put the world on the brink of a disaster,” it added.

    Hosting the G20 puts India in a tricky position, because while it shares Western concerns about China, it is also a major buyer of Russian arms and has ramped up Russian oil imports.

    A meeting of G20 finance ministers in Bengaluru last week failed to agree on a common statement after Russia and China sought to water down language on the war.

    While India has not condemned the Ukraine invasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Putin last year that this was “not a time for war” in comments seen as a rebuke to Moscow.

    Modi said Thursday that he was confident the meeting would “rise above differences” between its attendees.

    NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Thursday for the G20 to bridge differences over Ukraine, telling the opening of a meeting in New Delhi that global governance has “failed”.

    “The experience of the last few years -– financial crisis, climate change, pandemic, terrorism and wars — clearly shows that global governance has failed,” Modi said in a recorded statement opening the meeting of G20 foreign ministers.

    “We are meeting at a time of deep global divisions… We all have our positions and our perspectives on how these tensions (can) be resolved. However, as the leading economies of the world, we also have a responsibility for those who are not in this room,” Modi said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    India had wanted its G20 presidency this year to focus on issues such as alleviating poverty and climate finance, but the Ukraine war has so far crowded out other agenda items.

    The gathering will see US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the same room for the first time since July, but the two men are unlikely to hold talks.

    Western delegates fear China is considering supplying arms to its Russian ally and they will use the foreign ministers’ summit to discourage Beijing from intervening in the conflict.

    India’s longstanding security ties with Russia have put the host of Thursday’s meeting in an awkward diplomatic position after refusing to condemn the invasion over the past year.

    Addressing the Opening Segment of G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting. @g20org https://t.co/s73ypWruBf
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2023
    But EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was confident India would use the meeting to “make Russia understand that this war has to finish”.

    “Certainly the success of the meeting today will be measured in respect to what we will be able to do on that,” he told reporters Wednesday.

    Borrell will meet on the sidelines of the New Delhi summit with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, where he will seek assurances that Beijing will not lend support to Russia’s war effort.

    “Until now, the answer has been clearly stated by China, ‘it hasn’t happened and it won’t happen,’ but we have to remain vigilant,” said a senior EU official with knowledge of the matter.

    Chinese state news agency Xinhua last week quoted top diplomat Wang Yi as saying Beijing was willing to “strengthen strategic coordination” with Russia after meeting Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

    ‘Zero evidence’

    Blinken said he had no plans to meet with either the Russian or Chinese foreign ministers at the G20 summit.

    The last time Blinken and Lavrov were in the same room, at a G20 meeting in Bali last July, the latter stormed out according to Western officials.

    “If Russia — President Putin — were genuinely prepared to engage in meaningful diplomacy necessary to end the aggression, of course we’d be the first to work to engage, but there’s zero evidence of that,” Blinken said.

    Blinken had a fiery encounter with Wang last month in Germany after the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over its east coast on February 4.

    Lavrov intends to use his G20 attendance to lambast Western countries over the conflict, according to a Russian foreign ministry statement.

    Western nations want to “take revenge for the inevitable disappearance of the levers of dominance from its hands”, the ministry said Tuesday.

    “The destructive policy of the US and its allies has already put the world on the brink of a disaster,” it added.

    Hosting the G20 puts India in a tricky position, because while it shares Western concerns about China, it is also a major buyer of Russian arms and has ramped up Russian oil imports.

    A meeting of G20 finance ministers in Bengaluru last week failed to agree on a common statement after Russia and China sought to water down language on the war.

    While India has not condemned the Ukraine invasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Putin last year that this was “not a time for war” in comments seen as a rebuke to Moscow.

    Modi said Thursday that he was confident the meeting would “rise above differences” between its attendees.

  • Urban 20: Creating cities for a galvanised global order

    By Express News Service

    The inaugural event of the Urban 20 Engagement Group was held in Ahmedabad on February 9-10, 2023. Urban 20, or U20, is among the annual most influential city-level diplomacy initiatives. Receiving participation from Mayors and designated ‘City Sherpas’ from the G20 cohort, the deliberations at U20 inform G20 negotiations and are integral to the broader discourse around urban development. 

    The inaugural meeting was attended by more than 70 delegates from 42 cities – the largest recorded attendance since the inception of U20!

    It is fitting that India is anchoring the discourse on urbanisation and urban dynamics this year. Under the Modi government, India has increasingly led action on issues of global governance. One such success story has been the transformation of our urban areas which has now become a blueprint for other countries to learn from, particularly in the Global South. 

    This year’s U20 aims to shed light on the powerful implications of policies and practices adopted by cities on global development agendas. The inaugural meeting built on these themes by foregrounding the role of cities in economic prosperity and ecological harmony. Significant progress was made on developing a consensus around the six priority areas identified.

    The highest emphasis was given to the urgency of adopting environmentally responsible behaviours to reduce our carbon footprint. Secondly, conserving water resources and providing equitable access to water assumed greater salience. Thirdly, there was an acceptance that climate financing needed to be accelerated as we sought to retrofit legacy infrastructure. Fourth, it became imperative that we rethink regulatory and governance frameworks in order to achieve strategic targets. Fifth, the popular demand to promote local identities of cities to animate civic society was recognised. Lastly, it was deemed essential to democratise processes that champion the use of technology and data.

    City representatives expressed their solidarity in taking forward this collaborative agenda. This sixth edition of the U20 has morphed into a platform that aims to equip city governments to close the gap between policy and practice by translating deliberations on urban governance into on-ground solutions. As ‘Chair City’ of the U20, Ahmedabad led by example as it expounded on the innovations adopted in developing the Sabarmati riverfront and the key features of its affordable housing policy and heritage management plan, among other reforms.

    Ahmedabad encapsulates the spirit of citizen-oriented rejuvenation that India has embarked upon. In the last nine years, the Modi government has undertaken the largest planned urbanisation programme in the world, based on cooperative and competitive federalism; universalisation and saturation of basic services; technological innovation; economic opportunity; and a rural-urban continuum. Our urban transport policies are designed to fulfil the commitments of the Paris Agreement by adding green mobility options to India’s urban landscape. Various transformative urban missions have resulted in Indian cities poised to help the country achieve its economic and SDG targets.

    It is widely acknowledged that the onus of achieving SDG targets will lie with cities. In the case of India — which will have more than 600 million people residing in its cities by 2030 I have often said, “if India succeeds, the SDGs will succeed; and for the SDGs to succeed, India must succeed.” I do not doubt that India will succeed and will show the rest of the world how developing economies can tackle global challenges. The proof of our urban capabilities lies in how we overcame the pandemic despite our populous cities being severely affected. Through measures such as decentralised healthcare, direct cash transfers, universal service delivery and affordable rental housing, India demonstrated a governance approach that received global adulation and led to recent calls for replication. 

    At a time when the world is beset with geopolitical conflict, financial uncertainty and climatic stress, we must coordinate and calibrate policy responses from the lowest local level to the highest global gathering. As the oldest and largest democracy, it is in the Indian DNA to gain consensus among diverse opinions. From this ethos, the theme of this year’s G20 summit emanates: ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth. One Family. One Future.’

    G20 2023 has the potential to be the crucible from which a framework for mutually beneficial and sustainable international economic cooperation will emerge. I believe U20 Ahmedabad will be the vanguard for this spirit of collective action to take shape in our cities. With continuous guidance from the G20 Secretariat, the National Institute of Urban Affairs, which is the U20 Technical Secretariat, and knowledge partners from across the globe, I am convinced that Ahmedabad’s stewardship will enhance the impact of this sixth edition of U20.

    I commend the City Sherpas who contributed meaningfully to the inaugural U20 event. I hope Mayors, Sherpas and representatives from cities will continue to participate in the 2023 U20 cycle leading up to the Mayoral Summit in July. 

    As we pursue the shared goal of a prosperous and sustainable world, this sixth edition of the U20 has the unique opportunity to build a roadmap that can inform urban policies for years to come.

    HARDEEP SINGH PURIUnion Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, and Petroleum and Natural Gas

    The inaugural event of the Urban 20 Engagement Group was held in Ahmedabad on February 9-10, 2023. Urban 20, or U20, is among the annual most influential city-level diplomacy initiatives. Receiving participation from Mayors and designated ‘City Sherpas’ from the G20 cohort, the deliberations at U20 inform G20 negotiations and are integral to the broader discourse around urban development. 

    The inaugural meeting was attended by more than 70 delegates from 42 cities – the largest recorded attendance since the inception of U20!

    It is fitting that India is anchoring the discourse on urbanisation and urban dynamics this year. Under the Modi government, India has increasingly led action on issues of global governance. One such success story has been the transformation of our urban areas which has now become a blueprint for other countries to learn from, particularly in the Global South. 

    This year’s U20 aims to shed light on the powerful implications of policies and practices adopted by cities on global development agendas. The inaugural meeting built on these themes by foregrounding the role of cities in economic prosperity and ecological harmony. Significant progress was made on developing a consensus around the six priority areas identified.

    The highest emphasis was given to the urgency of adopting environmentally responsible behaviours to reduce our carbon footprint. Secondly, conserving water resources and providing equitable access to water assumed greater salience. Thirdly, there was an acceptance that climate financing needed to be accelerated as we sought to retrofit legacy infrastructure. Fourth, it became imperative that we rethink regulatory and governance frameworks in order to achieve strategic targets. Fifth, the popular demand to promote local identities of cities to animate civic society was recognised. Lastly, it was deemed essential to democratise processes that champion the use of technology and data.

    City representatives expressed their solidarity in taking forward this collaborative agenda. This sixth edition of the U20 has morphed into a platform that aims to equip city governments to close the gap between policy and practice by translating deliberations on urban governance into on-ground solutions. As ‘Chair City’ of the U20, Ahmedabad led by example as it expounded on the innovations adopted in developing the Sabarmati riverfront and the key features of its affordable housing policy and heritage management plan, among other reforms.

    Ahmedabad encapsulates the spirit of citizen-oriented rejuvenation that India has embarked upon. In the last nine years, the Modi government has undertaken the largest planned urbanisation programme in the world, based on cooperative and competitive federalism; universalisation and saturation of basic services; technological innovation; economic opportunity; and a rural-urban continuum. Our urban transport policies are designed to fulfil the commitments of the Paris Agreement by adding green mobility options to India’s urban landscape. Various transformative urban missions have resulted in Indian cities poised to help the country achieve its economic and SDG targets.

    It is widely acknowledged that the onus of achieving SDG targets will lie with cities. In the case of India — which will have more than 600 million people residing in its cities by 2030 I have often said, “if India succeeds, the SDGs will succeed; and for the SDGs to succeed, India must succeed.” I do not doubt that India will succeed and will show the rest of the world how developing economies can tackle global challenges. The proof of our urban capabilities lies in how we overcame the pandemic despite our populous cities being severely affected. Through measures such as decentralised healthcare, direct cash transfers, universal service delivery and affordable rental housing, India demonstrated a governance approach that received global adulation and led to recent calls for replication. 

    At a time when the world is beset with geopolitical conflict, financial uncertainty and climatic stress, we must coordinate and calibrate policy responses from the lowest local level to the highest global gathering. As the oldest and largest democracy, it is in the Indian DNA to gain consensus among diverse opinions. From this ethos, the theme of this year’s G20 summit emanates: ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth. One Family. One Future.’

    G20 2023 has the potential to be the crucible from which a framework for mutually beneficial and sustainable international economic cooperation will emerge. I believe U20 Ahmedabad will be the vanguard for this spirit of collective action to take shape in our cities. With continuous guidance from the G20 Secretariat, the National Institute of Urban Affairs, which is the U20 Technical Secretariat, and knowledge partners from across the globe, I am convinced that Ahmedabad’s stewardship will enhance the impact of this sixth edition of U20.

    I commend the City Sherpas who contributed meaningfully to the inaugural U20 event. I hope Mayors, Sherpas and representatives from cities will continue to participate in the 2023 U20 cycle leading up to the Mayoral Summit in July. 

    As we pursue the shared goal of a prosperous and sustainable world, this sixth edition of the U20 has the unique opportunity to build a roadmap that can inform urban policies for years to come.

    HARDEEP SINGH PURI
    Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, and Petroleum and 
    Natural Gas

  • No G20 joint statement as China, Russia wanted two paragraphs nixed

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI/BENGALURU : India issued a chair summary and outcome document after the G20 finance ministers’ meet concluded in Bengaluru on Saturday. There was no joint statement as the members had differences on its text on the Ukraine war. “There was no request from Russia and China on removing the word ‘war’ from the joint statement, but they wanted two paragraphs removed,’’ said Ajay Seth, Economic Affairs Secretary. Hence, the joint statement was dropped. 

    “We commit to enhancing international policy cooperation and steering the global economy towards securing strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth,’’ the chair summary and outcome document stated. 

    One para Russia and China objected to, read: “The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, diplomacy and dialogue are vital.’’

    FM: Summary, outcome document well received

    Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the points listed in the summary and the outcome document of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) have been well received. She said India has got support for bringing an expert panel to develop a narrative for New Development Banks (NDB) to make them capable for cross border challenges and better finance. 

    Responding to a question on the objections raised by China and Russia, Sitharaman and Seth said some decisions from the Bali meeting were incorporated. They admitted the two countries were not keen to have it included, but added that the other G20 countries, including India, had no objections to it.

    NEW DELHI/BENGALURU : India issued a chair summary and outcome document after the G20 finance ministers’ meet concluded in Bengaluru on Saturday. There was no joint statement as the members had differences on its text on the Ukraine war. “There was no request from Russia and China on removing the word ‘war’ from the joint statement, but they wanted two paragraphs removed,’’ said Ajay Seth, Economic Affairs Secretary. Hence, the joint statement was dropped. 

    “We commit to enhancing international policy cooperation and steering the global economy towards securing strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth,’’ the chair summary and outcome document stated. 

    One para Russia and China objected to, read: “The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, diplomacy and dialogue are vital.’’

    FM: Summary, outcome document well received

    Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the points listed in the summary and the outcome document of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) have been well received. She said India has got support for bringing an expert panel to develop a narrative for New Development Banks (NDB) to make them capable for cross border challenges and better finance. 

    Responding to a question on the objections raised by China and Russia, Sitharaman and Seth said some decisions from the Bali meeting were incorporated. They admitted the two countries were not keen to have it included, but added that the other G20 countries, including India, had no objections to it.

  • Dehradun Diary:  Uttarakhand to host two G-20 meetings in May

    Express News Service

    U’khand to host two G-20 meetings in MayUttarakhand has got an opportunity to host two meetings of G-20 countries. 200 delegates from G-20 group member countries will also participate in Ganga aarti in Rishikesh. The administration has intensified its preparations. At the same time, if Ramnagar is selected for the second meeting, then there may be jungle safari in Jim Corbett Park. Meetings and excursion programs will be held in Rishikesh from May 25 to 27. In Dehradun, Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu held a meeting with officials of Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal regarding  preparations.

    NGT issues notice to 322 hoteliers in stateAfter the NGT banned commercial use of Mussoorie lake water, the Pollution Control Board has now started issuing notices to 322 hotel operators in Mussoorie. The notice sought information about hotel rooms, source of water and consumption. The hotel traders have expressed their displeasure on the  notice issued by the Pollution Control Board, mentioning that after the already adverse circumstances including the Covid-19 pandemic, this order of the government will increase the difficulties of hotel owners in the state. 

    IIT-R & CIPET join hands to strengthen researchThe IIT-Roorkee and CIPET (Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology) signed an MoU to strengthen academic and research cooperation in the areas of petrochemicals, plastics, polymers, chemical engineering and science, and material science at IIT Roorkee. Prof Shishir Sinha, Director General, CIPET, said, “CIPET as an institute operates in the hub and spoke model with over 45 locations across the country with specialization in skill training, technical support, academics as well as research and the participation of CIPET experts in IIT Roorkee Programs will prove to be a symbiotic relation for the nation.”

    Narendra sethiOur correspondent in Uttarakhandnarendrasethi@ newindianexpress.com

    U’khand to host two G-20 meetings in May
    Uttarakhand has got an opportunity to host two meetings of G-20 countries. 200 delegates from G-20 group member countries will also participate in Ganga aarti in Rishikesh. The administration has intensified its preparations. At the same time, if Ramnagar is selected for the second meeting, then there may be jungle safari in Jim Corbett Park. Meetings and excursion programs will be held in Rishikesh from May 25 to 27. In Dehradun, Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu held a meeting with officials of Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal regarding  preparations.

    NGT issues notice to 322 hoteliers in state
    After the NGT banned commercial use of Mussoorie lake water, the Pollution Control Board has now started issuing notices to 322 hotel operators in Mussoorie. The notice sought information about hotel rooms, source of water and consumption. The hotel traders have expressed their displeasure on the  notice issued by the Pollution Control Board, mentioning that after the already adverse circumstances including the Covid-19 pandemic, this order of the government will increase the difficulties of hotel owners in the state. 

    IIT-R & CIPET join hands to strengthen research
    The IIT-Roorkee and CIPET (Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology) signed an MoU to strengthen academic and research cooperation in the areas of petrochemicals, plastics, polymers, chemical engineering and science, and material science at IIT Roorkee. Prof Shishir Sinha, Director General, CIPET, said, “CIPET as an institute operates in the hub and spoke model with over 45 locations across the country with specialization in skill training, technical support, academics as well as research and the participation of CIPET experts in IIT Roorkee Programs will prove to be a symbiotic relation for the nation.”

    Narendra sethi
    Our correspondent in Uttarakhand
    narendrasethi@ newindianexpress.com