RAIPUR(Chhattisgarh): Congress leader Kumari Selja on Friday lashed out at the Centre after the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge was not invited to the G20 dinner, saying it shows the mindset of the government.
Speaking to ANI on Friday, the Congress leader said, “He is our national president and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. This (leaving out Kharge from the list of invitees to the G20 summit) shows the mindset of the government. We are a democracy. If they can’t respect the Parliament, how can they show respect for the Leader of the Opposition in the Lower House? This has exposed their bent of mind.”
A big-ticket event featuring world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as delegates of leading international organisations, the G20 summit will be hosted at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan on September 9 and 10.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this complex on July 26, this year.
The G20, or the Group of Twenty, comprises 19 countries — Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.
Former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda are among the invitees to the G20 dinner.
However, Deve Gowda informed that he won’t be able to attend the dinner, hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, due to health reasons.
Deve Gowda said he communicated his decision to the government and wished the G20 Summit a grand success.
“I will not be attending the G20 dinner organised by the Hon’ble President of India Draupadi Murmuji, on 09 September 2023, due to health reasons. I have already communicated this to the government. I wish the G20 summit a grand success,” the former Prime Minister posted on ‘X’. (ANI)