Why should Team Modi get all the credit ? Indian Sickularism gang again got something on 'nose' and its pain !!

Until Friday night, Sept 8, 2023. any Delhi declaration looked doubtful. There had been no agreement on how to refer to the Ukraine war in the joint statement. The sickular lobby in India's domestic politics was more than happy !!

Some well known Modi-Jaishankar bashing journalists were all smile on screen -- off screen. The headlines were being discussed, 'Modi fails to ensure Delhi Declaraton' or Delhi's flop show ete etc...Far off, sickularism's most favourite and most deserving PM material but still in 'learning stage' was given inputs -- 'ram-jai...jai-ram etc etc....' .

Blogger at the venue !!

Congress questioned the 'displeasures' of US journalists. But suddenly things moved. The Saturday afternoon left the camp in pale face ! There was gloom, there was shock! Whispering....'what happened yaar...how yaar'. May be Congress leaders such as Jairam Ramesh - the new 'eyes and ears' of Rahul Gandhi got a few calls, or vice versa ?

By Saturday, Sept 9, around 3.30-4pm words spread ---- Russia was “cornered” in the negotiations. New Delhi was able to put the message across very well that let there be reservation and differences -- but there should be a Delhi Declaration. 

Modi's negotiators knew how to get the game going. They took Indonesia into confidence. India took over G-20 Presidency in December 2022 from Indonesia. 

Brazil and South Africa are the 'next two' G20 presidents. Their support was also enlisted and there came in a surprise support from Turkey. The game was through.  

 

Speaking at an afternoon session of the G20 summit. Prime Minister Modi said this year’s G20 was “the most ambitious in the history of G20. With 112 outcomes and presidency documents, we have more than doubled the substantive work from previous presidencies”.

To loud applause, Modi said the declaration had been officially adopted.
“....just got the good news that due to the hard work of our teams and your cooperation, a consensus has been reached on the New Delhi G20 leaders’ summit declaration”. 

Well, the consensus came as a 'surprise' -- even for the western media as it well known that the forum stood deeply divided over the war in Ukraine.

G-7 or 'influential' Western nations were pushing for strong condemnation of Russia in the Leaders' Declaration, while other countries demanded a focus on broader economic issues. After all that confabulation, Russia has not been condemned. Who wins?  

The G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration is thus being seen as a major climbdown by Western nations, which had been reported as insisting on strong language when referring to Ukraine. In gist, the G20 Delhi summit declaration "avoids" condemnation of Russia and the 37-page 83-para document calls for peace in Ukraine but urging all states to refrain from use of force for territory. This is a diplomatic coup for Team Modi and Dr Jaishankar must have good reason to celebrate the occasion. India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the country and Modi's stewardship has 'walked the talk'.  

"It's 100 percent consensus from all countries," Amitabh Kant, Sherpa for India at G20 Summit said. 

Importantly, all references to Russia, Russian aggression and Russia’s withdrawal in relation to the war in Ukraine that featured in last year’s joint statement at the G20 summit in Bali were removed. Instead, the declaration emphasised that countries must “refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition”.

“The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible”, it stated.

American analysts also admitted later that under the subhead, “For the Planet, People, Peace and Prosperity”, the Declaration said -- “We note with deep concern the immense human suffering and the adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world.” 

This could not be denied any stake holder and thus the ball was set rolling. There was also another line .... “Today’s era must not be of war”. This echoes what Prime Minister Modi had told Russian President Vladimir Putin and also this line was used in Bali too.

Of course Ukraine cannot be impressed or happy !!

The Ukrainian foreign ministry said the compromised joint declaration by G20 leaders relating to the Russian invasion of Ukraine was “nothing to be proud of”. 

Foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said the declaration was not “consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN charter in its entirety”.

The declaration says the states should be refraining from “threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state”. (The Guardian) 

“It is clear that the participation of the Ukrainian side would have allowed the participants to better understand the situation,” Nikolenko wrote on Facebook.