Game changer on the cards? G20 summit starts today

NT Bureau, Agencies

New Delhi: As world leaders converge at the G20 summit here, hosts India on Friday said the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration will reflect the voice of global south and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the conclave will chart a new path in the humancentric and inclusive development.

Refusing to be drawn into the specifics of contentious issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war and climate-related topics, India's top G20 officials told a news conference on the eve of the two-day summit that the Declaration was "almost ready" and they were hopeful of clinching a joint communique by consensus.

US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other leaders of the G20 grouping as well as chiefs of many leading world bodies like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) gathered in the national capital for the summit beginning Saturday.

India's G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant said New Delhi Leaders' Declaration will reflect the voice of the global south and developing countries.

"Our New Delhi Leaders' Declaration is almost ready, I would not like to dwell on it because this declaration will be recommended to the leaders and the leaders will then accept it and only then will we be able to talk about the actual achievements," he said.

Kharge not invited to Prez dinner, Cong fumes

The exclusion of Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge from President Droupadi Murmu's G20 dinner is an attack on democracy and reflects the ruling dispensation's thinking, party leaders said on Friday.

Though Kharge and other opposition leaders were not invited to the dinner on Saturday, Union ministers and chief ministers, including of states ruled by opposition parties, have received invites.

President Murmu will host the dinner for the visiting G20 dignitaries at the Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the G20 Summit.

Party leader Rahul Gandhi, who is in Brussels, said, "They have decided not to invite the Leader of the Opposition, it tells you something."

Media denied opportunity to pose questions to Biden-Modi at summit

The White House indicated that India had declined its requests for improved media access during the meeting between United States President Joe Biden and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

As a consequence, journalists accompanying President Biden to India for the G20 summit will not have the opportunity to pose questions to either Biden or Modi, as reported by CNN.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre emphasised that the White House had made multiple requests at various levels, including the National Security Council (NSC) and communications teams.

These requests aimed to ensure enhanced media access during President Biden's visit to India. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan reportedly said that the press would be provided with a readout of the meeting held between Modi and Biden.

He underlined the meeting between the two leaders is unusual compared to regular bilateral visits as it will take place at Modi’s residence.