NEW DELHI, Nov 22:
Against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a virtual summit of G20 leaders on Wednesday which would be attended by the likes of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
With Ottawa confirming Trudeau’s participation in the summit, this would be the first time he would come face to face with Prime Minister Modi, albeit virtually, after ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau’s allegations in September of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia.
India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India has rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.
While Putin’s participation in the virtual meeting has also been confirmed by the Kremlin, China on Tuesday had announced that Premier Li Qiang will attend the virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit at India’s invitation.
Significantly, the meeting comes on a day Israel’s Cabinet approved a temporary ceasefire with the Hamas group that is expected to bring the first halt in fighting in the six-week war.
The deal calls for a four-day ceasefire, during which Israel will halt its military offensive in Gaza while Hamas frees at least 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it and other militants are holding, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was quoted as saying by media reports.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday ahead of the summit, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said the deliberations will witness “excellent participation” from leaders of the grouping.
Kant described the virtual summit as “rare and exceptional” which would give Modi an opportunity to interact with world leaders for a second time during India’s G20 Presidency before it passes on to Brazil in December. (PTI)
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