China is anticipated to boycott the meetings in Leh and Srinagar in May, which are criticised by Pakistan.
Exactly three years after the first time the Indian security forces saw an unusual amount of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops assembling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, the government intends to conduct its second G-20 engagement group meeting in Leh this month, sending a clear message to China.
According to authorities, the Youth-20 Summit, or Y-20, will bring together roughly 80 participants from almost every G-20 nation from April 26 to 28 in Leh.
They choose not to remark on which nations had not yet confirmed their participation, nevertheless.
Pakistan has once again protested the meetings being held in what it claims to as “illegally occupied” Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, but it is not one of the invited parties.
Due to their locations on the so-called “disputed territory,” China, which skipped the G-20 engagement conference in Arunachal Pradesh, is believed to be skipping the gatherings in Leh in April and Srinagar from May 22 to 24 as well.
Countries of the OIC
The three G-20 nations, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Turkey, who are all OIC members, will also be in the spotlight for their participation. The OIC has criticised India for its plans to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir in many statements in 2019.
Given the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, diplomatic sources indicated that Turkey might not be able to send representatives. Meanwhile, Indonesia has not yet responded.
‘Strong outrage’
The decision by New Delhi to host the G-20 meetings in Srinagar and Leh drew “strong irritation” from the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to a statement released on Tuesday. The MFA charged India with “taking advantage of its membership” in the G-20 to further its agenda, saying that such events “cannot hide the reality that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute that has remained on the United Nations Security Council’s agenda for over seven decades.”
The MFA statement was not instantaneously answered with a response from the MEA. After Home Minister Amit Shah visited the northeastern state on Monday, it rejected China’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday. “Arunachal Pradesh has always been and always will be, a vital and core component of India. The aforesaid fact would not alter if one objects to such visits, an MEA spokeswoman stated.
Preparations on the Way
Officials stated that final preparations are being made for the Y-20 and G-20 tourism summits. The government delegates who will go to Srinagar may also be brought to Gulmarg for a day. About 80 young delegates, who have been nominated by their governments, are anticipated to travel to Leh for the three-day meeting and would mostly remain in the city.
The Kushok Bakula Rimpochee (KBR) Airport in Leh has undergone renovations, and e-buses have been introduced to transport the attendees. The ancient Leh Palace, Hemis Monastery, and Thiksey Monastery, three strategically protected monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India Leh Circle, have been lit for the April celebration.
Officials stated that final logistics and security arrangements for the event in Srinagar are still being finalized.
According to representatives of the Youth Affairs ministry, the first “inception” meeting in Guwahati in January set the agenda for the youth gathering in Leh. The Leh meeting would be used to discuss it, and the final version would be decided upon for a unified statement at the Varanasi summit in August. The five topics of the future of work and innovation, climate change, peacebuilding and reconciliation, the role of youth in democracy and government, and health and well-being (physical and mental) will be the focal points of the communiqué discussions.
When asked if Beijing had expressed any concerns about the spots, the officials said that invitations had been extended to all nations in January and that everyone was aware of the event’s dates in Leh. They added that it was the “prerogative” of the guest nations to determine whether or not to attend.
The Ladakh Buddhist Association’s (LBA) senior vice president and the head of the Leh Apex Body, Chering Dorjay, dismissed the criticisms. China has no right to provide opinions on whatever we do in Ladakh. Such threats shouldn’t be taken seriously, Mr Dorjay informed the news organisations. During the occasion, Ladakh is anticipated to highlight its cultural variety and boost tourism. According to officials, a carnival is being planned in the desert region close to Leh, where residents will exhibit street art, perform traditional dances, serve local food and advertise their start-up businesses’ goods at village haats. A gathering for the delegates will also be held at the Sindhu Ghat, according to reports.
