From sarees to traditional Indian attires like salwar kameez worn by the high dignitaries for the gala G20 Dinner on Saturday evening gave the real reflection of the Vasudhaiv Kutumabakam, the motto of the international event chaired by India that saw galaxy of world leaders, including President Joe Biden, United Kingdom PM Rishi Sunak amongst others.
The newly built international convention and exhibition centre and its verdant lawns dazzled at night with colourful illumination while its gurgling fountains and the ‘Nataraja’ statue placed in front of the state-of-the-art building created a pretty picture.
Japanese PM Fumio Kishida’s wife Yuko Kishida came in saree, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director and Chairman Kristalina Georgieva, dressed in Indian Salwar Kurta, were among the first to arrive at the newly built convention centre in Pragati Maidan alongwith World Bank President Ajay Banga and his wife Ritu Banga and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. (Till the reports filed)
Yuko Kishida stole the limelight as she was apparently wearing a Kanjivaram Saree. All the guests were received by President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi was also seen explaining the background insignia of Nalanda University, considered to be the oldest in the world.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yoko Kishida, who was dressed in a saree, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese along with his spouse and Mauritian PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and his wife, were among other dignitaries welcomed by President Murmu and Modi. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were also greeted by Murmu and Modi.
The Prime Minister was also seen explaining to some of the G20 leaders, including US President Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Macron and Australian PM Albanese, about the importance of the university.
Besides Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar with his wife Sudesh Dhankhar, former President Ram Nath Kovind, and former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu too joined the dinner party.
Bharat Vadya Darshanam (Musical Journey of India), a concert enthralled the guests from almost three hours during which 78 instrumentalists from throughout the nation, including 11 children, 13 women, and seven artists with disabilities, participated.
Sources said ITC Hotels that provided all vegetarian catering for the two-day summit for global leaders consisting of four-course dishes like Paneer Lababdar, Subz Korma, Potato Lyonnaise, Kaju Matar Makhana, Jowar Dal Tadka, Pyaaz Jeera Ka Pulao, Cucumber Raita, Tandoori Roti, Butter Naan, Kulcha, Roasted Almond and Vegetable Broth, and desserts like Kuttu Malpua and Kesar Pista Rasmalai. Lentils, salads and chaat items like Dahi Bhalla, Samosa, Spicy Chaat, Lilva Kachori and others were also part of the menu.
On Saturday during the G20 meeting lunch, a lavish vegetarian lunch was served that included kurkuri bhindi, tandoori aloo, zafrani gucchi pulao, and paneer tilwala.
Congress ruled States’ Chief Ministers except for the Himachal Pradesh CM, ‘avoided’ to grace the G20 Dinner on Saturday evening that saw the presence of top global leaders.
At least six of the 12 chief ministers belonging to Opposition skipped the G20 dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at the Bharat Mandapam on Saturday evening,
However the CMs of the Opposition bloc Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann were present in full and reportedly also had a brief brush with Modi.
All the CMs reached the venue in a ferry bus after reaching the Parliament complex between 6pm to 7 pm.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik too skipped the dinner due to health concerns as cited by sources close to them.
Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao, Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy who is in London and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan too did not made out to the event which saw presence of top global leaders, Modi and his council of ministers and host Murmu who reached at 7 pm to receive and greet her invitees. Modi and Murmu together extended the courtesy.
Murmu hosted the dinner at Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the G20 Summit at Pragati Maidan. A total 170 invitees were on the list, including Union Ministers and Chief Ministers, those of States ruled by Opposition parties also.
Global leaders shine in Indian attire at gala G20 dinner Congress invitees expressed their resentment since their party chief Mallikarjun Kharge was not invited for the dinner as extended by the President Draupadi Murmu.
Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot respectively alleged that their travel plans were disrupted due to the “restrictions” imposed on air travel in and around Delhi however that was rebutted by Union home ministry that no restrictions have been imposed on travel of governors and chief ministers to the national Capital or its nearby areas in their state aircraft during the ongoing G20 Summit but those travelling in private chartered flights require prior approval.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed as ‘wrong’ Congress Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge not being invited to the G20 gala dinner in Delhi. He also said, he will not be attending the dinner due to prior work commitments.
