President Droupadi Murmu Set to Host G20 Gala Dinner
In a highly anticipated event, President Droupadi Murmu is gearing up to host a grand gala dinner on the opening day of the upcoming G20 Summit in New Delhi. With just a few days left, preparations are in full swing for this prestigious gathering at the Bharat Mandapam, the official venue for the summit. The guest list boasts a remarkable 170 special invitees, promising an evening of diplomacy, camaraderie, and global significance.
The G20 Summit 2023:
The G20 Summit is scheduled to commence shortly, with Prime Minister Modi set to deliver the opening address. One of the most remarkable developments leading up to this event is the inclusion of the African Union within the G20. Prime Minister Modi’s proposal to invite the African Union to join this elite group of the world’s foremost economies was met with enthusiastic approval from all member countries.
Modi’s announcement, met with thunderous applause from world leaders, solidifies India’s commitment to strengthening ties with the global South. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had the honor of escorting the President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, to his seat at the prestigious G20 high table.
The Elite Guest List: Who’s In?
The guest list for the G20 special dinner is a testament to the inclusivity of the event. In addition to foreign leaders and heads of delegations, Chief Ministers representing all Indian states have received invitations. Cabinet and state ministers, central government secretaries, and other distinguished guests will also be in attendance. The multi-function hall at Bharat Mandapam will serve as the venue for this grand gala on September 9.
President Droupadi Murmu herself will play the role of gracious hostess, joined by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar. M. Venkaiah Naidu, the former Vice President, and Ram Nath Kovind, the former President, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contribute to the event’s prestige.
Cabinet Ministers:
The list of cabinet ministers attending this illustrious dinner includes renowned figures like Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Narendra Singh Tomar, S. Jaishankar, Arjun Munda, Smriti Irani, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Pralhad Joshi, and many more. Union ministers Narayan Rane, Sarbananda Sonowal, Virendra Kumar, Giriraj Singh, and several others will grace the occasion with their presence.
Ministers of State:
Ministers of State who have received invitations encompass a diverse array of political talent, including Rao Indrajeet Singh, Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Shripad Yasho Naik, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Prahlad Singh Patel, Ashwini Kumar Chaubey, Vijay Kumar Singh, Krishna Pal Gurjar, Rao Sahab Patil, Ramdas Athavale, Sadhvi Niranjana Jyoti, Sanjiv Kumar Baliyan, Nityanand Rai, Pankaj Chaudhari, Anupriya Patel, SP Singh Baghel, Rajiv Chandrashekhar, Shobha Karandalaje, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Darshana Jardosh, Kaushal Kishor, Rameswar Teli, A Narayan Swami, Annpurna Devi, Som Prakash, V. Muraleedharan, BL Verma, Meenakshi Lekhi, Kailash Chaudhary, Ajay Bhatt, Renuka Singh, Debu Singh Chauhan, Bhagwat Khuba, Ajay Kumar Mishra, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Pratima Bhaumik, Subhash Sarkar, Bhagwat Krishna Rao Karad, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Bhartiya Pravin Pawar, Visheshwar Tudu, Sukant Thakur, Mahendra Bhai, John Barla, Dr. Ilmurugan, Nisith Pramanik, and many others.
Distinguished Guests and Officials:
The event will also see the presence of eminent figures such as CAG of India Girish Chandra Murmu, Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla, NSA Ajit Doval, Delhi LG VK Saxena, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, and various other important officials and distinguished guests. Their participation will undoubtedly elevate the significance of the evening.
While the G20 special dinner promises to be a night of camaraderie and diplomacy, it’s essential to highlight those who won’t be in attendance. Leaders from opposition political parties, including the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, have not received invitations. This exclusion has sparked criticism from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who expressed his disappointment during a press conference in Brussels.
Rahul Gandhi questioned the decision to exclude opposition leaders, emphasizing that it reflects a disregard for a significant portion of India’s population. He urged people to consider the implications of such exclusions and the underlying mindset behind these decisions.
In conclusion, the eagerly anticipated G20 Gala Dinner, hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, promises to be a significant diplomatic event on the global stage. With a star-studded guest list and the inclusion of the African Union, it symbolizes India’s commitment to fostering global cooperation and inclusivity. However, the absence of opposition leaders has ignited a debate about political inclusivity and representation in the country’s governance.