PM attending G20 summit 'safely, securely' since Trump is boycotting it: Cong
New Delhi (PTI): Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress on Friday claimed that he is attending the G20 Summit in South Africa "safely and securely" since US President Donald Trump is boycotting the conclave and wondered whether "huglomacy" with "my good friend" revive as the next Summit of the grouping will take place in America.
Prime Minister Modi on Friday embarked on a three-day visit to South Africa to attend the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the next G20 Summit a year from now will be in the US and by then, presumably, India's trade "(or)deal" with the US will be done.
"But if in the past seven months, President Trump has claimed 61 times that he halted Operation Sindoor, imagine how many more times he will repeat those claims in the next twelve months," Ramesh said on X.
The prime minister is attending the G20 Summit in South Africa today and tomorrow, and he is doing so safely and securely since President Trump and the US are boycotting the summit, the Congress leader claimed.
"Recall that Mr. Modi didn't go to Kuala Lumpur a few days back for the India-ASEAN Summit since he would then have to come face-to-face with President Trump," he said.
It is extraordinary that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the US opposes South Africa's G20 themes of solidarity, equality, and sustainability on the grounds that they amount to anti-Americanism, Ramesh said.
"It is incidentally the very same Marco Rubio who was the first, at 5:37 PM on May 10th, to announce to the world the abrupt halt to Operation Sindoor," he said.
Ramesh pointed out that the G20 Presidency rotates annually and India had taken over from Indonesia in November 2023 and had handed over to Brazil in November 2024.
Now South Africa is to hand over to the US which will not be present, he said.
"So the next G20 Summit a year from now will be in the US. By then, presumably, India's trade (or)deal with the US will be done. But if in the past seven months, President Trump has claimed 61 times that he halted Operation Sindoor, imagine how many more times he will repeat those claims in the next twelve months," Ramesh said.
"Will huglomacy with 'my good friend' revive or whether there will be just handshakes or whether Mr. Modi doesn't go - time alone will tell," the Congress general secretary said.
In his departure statement, Modi said he will present India's perspective at the forum in line with its vision of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and 'One Earth, One Family and One Future'.
"Will be attending the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a particularly special Summit as it is being held in Africa. Various global issues will be discussed there. Will be meeting various world leaders during the Summit," Modi posted on X.
On the margins of the summit, the prime minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present in Johannesburg. He will also attend the sixth IBSA Summit there.
He is visiting South Africa from November 21-23 at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend the 20th G20 Leaders' Summit under South Africa's Presidency.
The theme of this year's G20 has been 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability',
The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday had said that Prime Minister Modi is expected to speak in all three sessions of the Summit.
G20 members include the world's major economies, representing 85 per cent of global GDP, 75 per cent of international trade, and two-thirds of the world's population, according to the website of the G20.
It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the UK, the US, the European Union, and the African Union.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
2 days' WFH for govt offices, Metro use by ministers: Delhi CM's call for fuel conservation
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday announced a slew of measures including two days of 'work from home' (WFH) for government offices, use of Metro trains on Mondays by ministers and officers, and a voluntary 'no-vehicle day' every week.
Gupta said in a press conference attended by her Cabinet colleagues that the government has drawn an extensive plan under "Mera Bharat, Mera Yogdan" to implement the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saving fuel and wise expenditure.
She said all Delhi government offices will follow WFH two days a week. The private sector will also be requested to follow it, she said.
Gupta said all ministers, officers and she herself will use Metro for commuting on Mondays while people will be requested to observe 'no-vehicle day' every week.
The government has also decided to cancel all official foreign visits by ministers for one year while no big events will be hosted by it for the next three months, she said.
The chief minister said petrol and diesel quotas of the Delhi government officers have also been slashed by 20 per cent.
Earlier, Gupta headed a meeting with all her Cabinet ministers and senior officers of the government to discuss ways to save fuel and other resources amid global uncertainty over crude oil and gas supplies.
The chief minister has also cut down on her carcade by 60 per cent, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to people to spend wisely and save fuel in view of the war in West Asia.
The chief minister's convoy now has only four vehicles, including two EVs.
