“The G-20 presidency belongs to the entire nation and is an opportunity to showcase India to the world. There is global curiosity and attraction towards India as the G-20 presidency offers great opportunities for tourism and the local economy,” the prime minister is learned to have said at the meeting, even as opposition leaders they urged him to use the opportunity to benefit the country.
Before the Prime Minister spoke, various political leaders shared their views on India’s G-20 presidency, including BJP chief JP Nadda, his Congressional counterpart Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Andhra CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, leader of the CPI(M). Sitaram YechuryTDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, Former TN CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Union Minister & LJP Leader Pashupatinath Paras, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde & IUML Chief KM Kader Mohideen.
Stressing the importance of teamwork, Modi sought the cooperation of all leaders in organizing various G20 events and said, ‘G20 presidency would help to showcase parts of India beyond conventional big metros thereby bringing out the uniqueness of every part of our nation “.
Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made short speeches while a detailed presentation was also made summarizing aspects of India’s G20 priorities.
Congress Speaker Mallikarjun Kharge congratulated the prime minister noting that it is not the first time India has hosted a major summit, recalling the NAM summit attended by over 100 countries in 1983 and the CHOGM summit in November 1983, in which 42 countries participated. Importantly, Kharge said that since China is a member of the G20, Prime Minister Modi should use his influence to push China to end its occupation within India’s borders.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi, Bhupender Yadav and former Chief Minister HD Deve Gowda were also present at the meeting.
Highlighting the large number of visitors who would come to India during India’s G20 presidency, the prime minister noted the potential to boost tourism and stimulate local economies of venues where G20 meetings will be held.
CPM Secretary-General Sitaram Yechury said the success of India’s stated goals of the G20 presidency – the implementation of ‘One Land-One Family-One Future’ depended on the government acknowledging that none of these ideas could be achieved through the imposition of uniformity, but only through the recognition of a global family where “social pluralities are celebrated by treating all diversities on the basis of equality and dignity”.
On the various issues surrounding India, Kharge said the country should use its host status to push for a law that would not allow fugitives to find safe havens outside after committing corruption in India; leverage the position to seek redress for India as well as the developing world on climate change, as recently agreed; end the long 900-day wait for US visas for Indians by talking to the US and push for an end to financial support by some countries for terrorist organizations.
The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies. India officially assumed the presidency of the G20 on 1 December.
The country is expected to host more than 200 preparatory meetings across the country starting this month. The next G20 leaders’ summit at the level of heads of state or government will be held on 9-10 September next year in New Delhi.
