September 16th 2023.
The successful organisation of the G20 Summit in India is a great achievement for the country. However, it would be wrong to attribute this success solely to the stature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
For those unfamiliar with the G20 process, it is important to note that the presidency of the G20 is determined by rotation among five groups of member countries. When it is a group's turn, the eligible countries negotiate and decide the group's presidency. India was in the right place at the right time, and Prime Minister Modi, as the head of the government, had the privilege of holding the office until November this year.
Given this opportunity to set the agenda, Modi declared “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” as the theme of the summit. This concept is derived from the Upanishads and was accepted by all G20 member countries.
However, it is ironic that while the Prime Minister spoke of the world as a family, many in the country itself are treated as outsiders. A case in point is the situation in Manipur - while the summit was taking place in Delhi, ethnic violence was rampant in Manipur. Modi's silence on the matter before the summit was noticeable, but he made no mention of it during the summit either.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister has often failed to show support to those who needed it - farmers protesting for their demands, women wrestlers seeking action on sexual harassment - which either means that some people in India are not part of the family or that the head of the family has failed them.
The G20 Summit declaration speaks of inclusive development, something that is essential for India. However, our country is ranked lower than its neighbours Pakistan and China on the inclusive development index. This is further compounded by the fact that India is ranked 102 on the hunger index, something we should be ashamed of. A UNICEF report of 2019 stated that 47% of the youth in the country are not on track to have the education and skills necessary for employment in 2030.
There are also other issues that arise from the G20 Summit declaration - Modi's promise to bring back black money stacked in banks in Switzerland, the amount of food wasted in India annually, and the environmental damage caused by aggressive attacks on ecosystems.
Finally, it is ironic that the BJP celebrated Modi's success at the party headquarters in Delhi on Wednesday, when near and dear ones were placing wreaths on the bodies of four officers of the uniformed services who died in an encounter with terrorists in Anantnag district of Kashmir. This is a stark reminder of the gap between words and actions.
The G20 Summit was a big win for India, resulting in a setback for China. There are a few issues that need to be addressed for the country to truly benefit from this success. India must take immediate measures to ensure that the commitment to providing access to affordable, safe, nutritious and healthy diets is fulfilled. The government must also take steps to reduce food wastage, restore ecosystems, address food security challenges, and provide support to refugees. Most importantly, religious tolerance must be encouraged and hate speech must be strongly condemned.
Only then will India be able to deliver on the promises made during the G20 Summit.
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