Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday lashed out at the central government over the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge not being invited to the G20 gala dinner, saying this can happen only in countries where there is no democracy or no opposition. Rajya Sabha MP said that he hopes India, that is Bharat, has not reached a stage where democracy and the opposition will cease to exist.
In a post on X, Chidambaram said, "I cannot imagine any other democratic country's government not inviting the recognised Leader of the Opposition to a state dinner for world leaders. This can happen only in countries where there is no Democracy or no Opposition." "I hope India, that is Bharat, has not reached a stage where Democracy and the Opposition will cease to exist," he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Kharge has not been invited to the G20 gala dinner. He slammed the central government and said that it doesn't value the leader of 60 per cent of India's population. President Droupadi Murmu will host the dinner on Saturday at Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the G20 Summit of world leaders. Interacting with the media at Brussels Press Club in Brussels, Gandhi said the government's action tells about its thinking.
G20 Summit Kicks Off Today With Focus On Global Economic And Geopolitical Concerns
India is all set to host the much-awaited G20 Summit as representatives of the world’s largest economies have arrived in New Delhi to attend the two-day global conclave. The mega meet kicks off Saturday, with leaders from the member nations, invited countries and international organisations holding deliberations on the key economic, geopolitical and other issues being faced by the world.
The two-day conclave will be held at the newly-built international convention and exhibition centre, Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan.
As the world leaders arrived for the G20 summit, host India on Friday said the 'Delhi Declaration' will reflect the voice of Global South. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) and expressed confidence that the meet will chart a new path in the human-centric and inclusive development.
The global leaders will arrive at the summit venue and pose for welcome photographs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi around 9.30 to 10.30 am before the commencement of the first session of talks.