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Food Lite Blogs

Coca-Cola’s Grand Food Festival in Delhi

Interactive installations, merchandise exhibit, photo-boothsand rich tapestry of musical genresby India’s most loved artists like Prateek Kuhad, Seedhe Maut, Nucleya, Raftaar, Euphoria, added an extra layer of excitement to the experience…reports Olivia Sarkar

The Coca-Cola company successfully brought its global meals experience platform, “Coke is Cooking,” to the national capital, concluding an unforgettable culinary and musical extravaganza.

The event, which took place on the 27th and 28th of October at NSIC, Okhla Ground, New Delhi, left a lasting impression on food enthusiasts and music lovers alike. The grand food festival celebrated the timeless pairing of the brand with delectable dishes, creating a magical fusion of flavours and melodies.

The food festival featured over 40 eateries, offering a wide array of culturally rich and lip-smacking cuisines, conveniently located under one roof. The event attracted a diverse crowd of enthusiastic attendees. Foodies savored delectable street food, regional delicacies, and modern interpretations of traditional recipes. From spicy chaats to aromatic biryanis, there was something to tantalize every palate.This one-of-a-kind celebration of food, flavors, and culture brought together food lovers, chefs, connoisseurs, and renowned influencers for an unforgettable culinary experience including Shivesh Bhatia, Gurpreet Tikku, Kamya Jani, Kusha Kapila, etc. to name a few.

Interactive installations, merchandise exhibit, photo-boothsand rich tapestry of musical genresby India’s most loved artists like Prateek Kuhad, Seedhe Maut, Nucleya, Raftaar, Euphoria, added an extra layer of excitement to the experience.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Kaushik Prasad, Director of Marketing at Coca-Cola, said, “We are thrilled with the response we got from “Delhi Is Cooking”, a festival to celebrate some of Delhi’s iconic & mouthwatering foods and a platform for music including our very own Coke Studio Bharat’s artists where people connected over delicious food, great music & chilled Coke, the perfect recipe for magic with friends.”

As this event bids adieu to Delhi, it extends a warm invitation to food and music aficionados in the “City of Joy,” Kolkata from 17-18th November.

ALSO READ-Bite sized deliciousness: Laddooh by Chef Sugandha Saxena

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Environment India News

Delhi’s Air Quality Continues to be in ‘Severe’ Category

The statement further informed that the meeting has been called to strictly implement GRAP-4…reports Asian Lite News

The cases of stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab are the major sources of air pollution in the city…reports Asian Lite News

The overall air quality in the National Capital continues to be in the ‘severe’ category’ for the fifth straight day, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.

According to the data issued by the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the air quality in the National Capital was recorded at 488, up from 410 a day ago.

Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting of all concerned departments today in view of the increasing pollution, his office said in a brief statement.

The statement further informed that the meeting has been called to strictly implement GRAP-4.

This comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Sunday decided to invoke Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect to prevent further deterioration of air quality.The Air Quality Commission said that Stage IV will be implemented in addition to the restrictions placed under Stage I to III.

According to the 8-point action plan, there will be a ban on entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services and all LNG/ CNG/ electric trucks). Also, a ban will be imposed on the plying of Delhi-registered diesel-operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.

GRAP Stage-IV restrictions also include NCR State Govts and GNCTD may take a decision on discontinuing physical classes even for classes VI-IX, and class XI and conduct lessons in an online mode.

According to doctors, for any healthy person, a recommended AQI should be less than 50, but these days the AQI has spiked beyond 400, which could prove fatal for those suffering from lung-related diseases and even poses a risk of lung cancer.

The cases of stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab are the major sources of air pollution in the city.

Meanwhile, a similar situation was witnessed in Bathinda, Punjab where the AQI remained in the (very poor) category with an overall Air Quality Index recorded at 215.

Locals spoke to ANI and appealed to the government to stop farmers from stubble burning as air pollution in the region continues to deteriorate.

“Do not let the farmers set the stubble on fire. The smoke will cause great health problems to the people,” locals said.

NGT in a statement said that immediate action is required for the prevention and control of air pollution in these cities so as to ensure better air quality to the residents. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Delhi to enforce new measures as air quality turns ‘poor’

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Environment Environment and WIldlife India News

Delhi Stops Entry of Diesel Buses into City From Today

A decision was taken to stop construction work within a one-kilometer radius in hot spots where the AQI level continuously remains close to 400…reports Asian Lite News

Environment Minister Gopal Rai chaired a review meeting at the Delhi Secretariat on Wednesday on the rising pollution level and implementation of Graded Response Action Plan-II.

A decision was taken to stop construction work within a one-kilometer radius in hot spots where the AQI level continuously remains close to 400, he said.

“The entry of diesel buses into Delhi has been stopped from today as per the directions by CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management). 18 teams have been formed for this…It is my request to the state governments to ply only CNG, Electric or BS-VI buses from their depots so that passengers do not face any trouble,” the Delhi environment minister said.

Taking account of the poor air quality situation of the national capital, Rai said that the next 15-20 days from November 1 onwards would be critical in the context of the air quality index.

Speaking to ANI, Rai said: “From November 1, the next 15 to 20 days are critical. Scientists are saying that the temperature is dropping and the speed of air has decreased, so pollutants are at a lower level. Yesterday, AQI was nearly 350. Due to the work going on in the 13 hotspots in Delhi, the situation is fairly under control. At some hotspots, vehicle pollution’s contribution is high.”

The Environment Minister further said that different departments will convene a meeting later in the day to analyse the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-II.

“Today there is a meeting of different departments to analyze GRAP-II, which was implemented in all of Delhi. We have asked for reports from different places to know what the sources of local pollution are. We have requested that the state governments send CNG or BS-VI buses from the depot itself. The report released by the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) shows that stubble burning has reduced, but its impact can be seen on Delhi pollution,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, the air quality index in the national capital was recorded at 336 on Wednesday morning bringing the air quality under the ‘very poor’ category for the fourth day in a row and the third straight day this week.

As per the SAFAR-India, the city’s AQI has been in the ‘very poor’ category since Sunday (309).

The AQI was recorded at 322 on Monday and 327 on Tuesday, as per the data provided by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India. (ANI)

ALSO READ: UK officials pressured to drop IP law demands in India trade talks

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-Top News India News Sri Lanka

Delhi, Colombo Resume Talks For Economic & Tech Agreement

On the proposed ETCA, both sides agreed on the need to build on progress made in the past while revisiting their positions wherever possible to reflect new developments…reports Asian Lite News

India and Sri Lanka held the 12th round of negotiations on the Ecobomic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Wednesday.

The three-day meeting was held from October 30 to November 1 in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo.

According to an official statement, the two countries had 11 rounds of bilateral talks from 2016 to 2018 but then the negotiations were paused.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by KJ Weerasinghe, Chief Negotiator and the Indian delegation was led by Shri Anant Swarup, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Government & Chief Negotiator.

During this round, both sides took stock of the progress made till the 11th round and engaged in discussions on various chapters, including Trade in Goods, Technical Barriers to Trade, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Trade in Services, Custom Procedure & Trade Facilitation, Rules of Origin, Trade Remedies, Economic & Technology Cooperation and Dispute Settlement. Both sides identified areas of convergence and areas where they need to find creative solutions, the statement said.

Additionally, both sides reviewed the progress on implementation and decided to drop nine issues as being resolved. Issues such as the quota on apparel and pepper and the procurement of pharmaceuticals were also discussed and both sides decided to continue the discussion and explore new options for resolution of the matter.

On the proposed ETCA, both sides agreed on the need to build on progress made in the past while revisiting their positions wherever possible to reflect new developments.

Moreover, the Ministry said that the conclusion of the negotiations is expected to open new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation for both countries.

The India-Sri Lanka ETCA will be a pivotal move to further enhance bilateral trade between the two countries. Both sides acknowledged the huge potential of the India-Sri Lanka trade partnership and the possibilities for enhanced economic relations in areas of mutual interest. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Lanka Engages Multilateral Agencies for Economic Recovery Talks

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-Top News Arab News India News

Pro-Palestine protests in Delhi, Bengaluru

The Delhi police said that they had detained around 60 people for not taking prior permission for the protest, reported news agency PTI…reports Asian Lite News

Over a thousand Palestine supporters formed a human chain and took out a candlelight march at the heart of Bengaluru on Monday to express solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

Several civil society groups including Bahutva Karnataka and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, which gathered near the MG Road metro station to form the human chain, condemned the “genocide” carried out by the Israeli forces. They had planned to gather at the Rangoli Metro Art Centre on MG Road to discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict and “debunk fake news spread by the mainstream media” about it. But the Cubbon Park police detained the activists from the boulevards of MG Road.

However, by 6 pm, hundreds of Palestine supporters gathered near the MG Road metro station and took out a candlelight march towards the Anil Kumble Circle. The police, who were outnumbered by the protesters, allowed the solidarity march.

Dozens detained in Delhi

Meanwhile, at least 60 people, including students, were detained in the Indian capital city of New Delhi for organising a pro-Palestinian demonstration demanding diplomatic support for Palestine and denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza, on Monday.

The Delhi police said that they had detained around 60 people for not taking prior permission for the protest, reported news agency PTI. The demonstration was held by the CPI (ML)-backed All India Students Association (AISA) and other student organisations.

According to reports, the protesters, most of them students and teachers from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, took to Jantar Mantar and started raising slogans ‘Justice for Palestine,’ and ‘Gaza we are with you.’

“We are holding a demonstration and demanding diplomatic support for Palestine and actions against Israel, for violating human rights,” said Hemant, one of the demonstrators.

Subsequently, the Delhi police rounded the protesters up in buses and took them to an undisclosed location. The AISA has since released a statement demanding their release.

The CPI (ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya also visited the Palestine Embassy to express solidarity on behalf of the Indian people, in New Delhi, on Monday.

ALSO READ-Thousands join pro-Palestine rally in London, Europe

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-Top News India News

Fourth Flight From Israel Lands in Delhi

The Indian passengers said that the situation in Israel remains tense and thanked the Modi government for carrying out ‘Operation Ajay’ and evacuating the Indian citizens…reports Asian Lite News

The fourth flight from Israel under ‘Operation Ajay’ carrying 274 Indian passengers landed in the national capital on Sunday.

Union Minister of State General (Retd) VK Singh received the Indian passengers at the airport. He interacted with them and also gave tricolours to every Indian passenger.

MoS for Road Transport and Highways, VK Singh informed that more flights will be carried out to evacuate the Indian citizens amid the situation in Israel.

“This is the 4th flight, we are expecting more for a couple of reasons. One is the fear that something might hit them. After having been taken by surprise, Israel also gathered its things in a more orderly manner. However, the universities being closed, a general atmosphere of fear and preparation that is going on in Israel, our people fear that they should not unnecessarily become burden out there and come back home. And go back when things pan out in a better manner,” Singh told ANI.

He further urged people not to panic and follow the instructions, adding that another flight will be coming on Monday.

“There is another flight coming in tomorrow. We will keep running the flights till all the people who have registered are taken out. This operation is going very well. It is seamless, well organised… My message would be to stay where you are and follow the instructions. There is no need to panic,” he added.

The Indian passengers said that the situation in Israel remains tense and thanked the Modi government for carrying out ‘Operation Ajay’ and evacuating the Indian citizens.

An Indian student coming from Israel told ANI, “In the beginning it was horrific. Everything was uncontrollable. But now the situation is under control. The government and military are taking very strict action…Thank you, it was the best initiative (Operation Ajay) taken by the government of India…”

“In Tel Aviv the situation is normal. But in the south and north Israel, there are chances of war. That’s why we returned…The government did a very good job. They responded very fast within 2-3 days,” another Indian national named Sumit said.

The Indian nationals applauded the operation and said that there was support from the Indian embassy and the evacuation process was nice and quick.

Priya Gupta, an Indian national said, “I was in Tel Aviv University for the past two years… There was support from the Indian embassy as well… I feel thankful to the Indian government for making this arrangement. It was really quick.”

“We were in Tel Aviv and that area is very safe. Initially, for the first two days, we were afraid, but the fear was more in the border area. There was no problem in Tel Aviv, but there was little panic. There was uncertainty about what would happen?… The evacuation process was very nice and quick. We applied for it a day before yesterday and got the flight yesterday,” another Indian national Dipender Pawari said.

Meanwhile, ten citizens of Uttarakhand were also among the 274 Indian passengers who arrived in Delhi.

They were received at the airport by the representative of Uttarakhand Government and after rest and refreshments at Uttarakhand Sadan, Delhi, necessary arrangements were made for their destination.

A senior lady named Pushpa Singh said, “I am from Uttarakhand. I had gone to Israel to meet my daughter, but got stranded after the bombing started. I contacted the Embassy and they provided all the necessary help and arrangements. I thank the Indian government for this”.

‘Operation Ajay’ was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday.

It has been more than a week after the attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border. Over 1,000 Palestinians were also killed as a result of retaliatory strikes from Israel.

The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance.

The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Nepal Prepares to Repatriate Citizens In Israel

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-Top News India News

Flight carrying 212 Indians from Israel lands in Delhi

The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance…reports Asian Lite News

A flight carrying the first batch of Indians, who were stranded in Israel amid the ongoing war, landed in New Delhi under ‘Operation Ajay’ on Friday morning.

As many as 212 Indian nationals from Israel have arrived at the Delhi airport. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar was present at the airport to welcome them.

With folded hands, Chandrasekhar greeted the returning Indians. He then interacted with the students.

The union minister reassured the passengers, saying India’s commitment to the safety of every Indian is unwavering. Prime Minister Modi is determined to protect them, he added.

“Our government will never leave any Indian behind. Our government, our Prime Minister is determined to protect them and bring them back home safely. We are grateful to EAM Dr S Jaishankar, the team at the External Affairs Ministry, the flight crew of this Air India flight for making this possible, for bringing our children back home safely and soundly and back home to their loved ones,” Chandrasekhar said.

An Indian national who returned from Israel told ANI, “This is the first time that we are facing this situation over there. We are very thankful to the Indian government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing us back. We are hoping for peace as soon as possible so that we can go back to work as earliest as possible…”

The first batch of Indian passengers boarded the flight from Tel Aviv to India under Operation Ajay on Thursday.

On the occasion, Indian Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla said that the Indian Embassy in Israel is working to ensure the well-being of Indian nationals in war-torn Israel and informed that under “Operation Ajay” the embassy will help Indians who want to return to India.

“As I said yesterday, the Embassy of India in Tel Aviv has been working continuously to ensure the safety and welfare of all our Indian citizens in Israel. Yesterday, the external affairs minister announced Operation Ajay to help those Indians who wish to return to India. And today, under Operation Ajay, the first flight is going back to India,” he said.

He added, “It’s going to have almost 200 Indian citizens – students, caregivers, and business professionals, and we are trying to ensure that we have a similar flight in the coming days. We will have, one flight tomorrow…I would like to reach out to my fellow Indian citizens here and urge them to remain calm and stay safe by following the local safety advisories and I want to tell them that we’re always there with them. We are standing with them.”

In an exclusive interview with ANI, an Indian citizen returning back to India in the first flight from Tel Aviv thanked the Indian government for assisting in the tough times and asserted that they have got a lot of help through “Operation Ajay”.

Earlier on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “As announced by EAM yesterday, Operation Ajay has been launched to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to come back. The first chartered flight will be reaching Tel Aviv later tonight to pick up the Indian citizens and is likely to return to India tomorrow morning,” the external affairs ministry spokesperson said while addressing a media briefing here today.”We are keeping a close watch on the situation in Israel.”

The MEA spokesperson also said that there were no Indian casualties so far.”We haven’t heard of any casualty so far,” he said.”Around 18,000 Indians are in Israel. There is conflict going on and it is a matter of concern. Indians advised to follow advisories issued by our mission,” Bagchi said.

“Operation Ajay” was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday.

The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance.

The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance.

Earlier, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired a meeting to review preparations for “Operation Ajay”. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Hamas Vows Payback If Israel Enters Gaza On Foot

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-Top News UK News

UK negotiators in Delhi for talks on FTA

In December, India passed a law for enabling development of the country as an international arbitration centre…reports Asian Lite News

Trade negotiators from the UK are in India and on Monday both sides will sit together to sew up any remaining loose ends in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) the two countries aim to sign, a senior official said.

The UK team’s visit follows India’s commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal’s visit to London last week to push the negotiations further. Both sides have so far concluded 13 rounds of talks. The official said another team from the UK is already in India for further talks on the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), to be inked along with the FTA.

“Everything is at the closure level,” the official added.

The investment treaty is being negotiated as a separate agreement. Investment treaties help promote and protect investments in both countries. They sometimes give partner countries greater freedom than other international investors.

The main point of contention in negotiations is about the mechanism for the settlement of disputes. India has proposed to first utilise all local judicial remedies before initiating international arbitration. It also wants any international arbitration that happens to happen in India. In December, India passed a law for enabling development of the country as an international arbitration centre.

Apart from BIT, the rules of origin and intellectual property rights (the latter two under the FTA) were some of the issues that were proving to be contentious in the negotiations. From the Indian side, the demand for easier visas for professionals was seeing some resistance from the UK. Differences in services have been sorted out on the lines of the UK’s FTA with Australia which came into force in May.

In the services sector, the UK has demanded national treatment for its services businesses and greater freedom for its professionals to operate in India. This has been agreed to. National treatment means treating foreigners and locals equally with regard to rules and regulations. It also means equal access to opportunities for overseas operators.

The UK was interested in financial, business and professional, and transport services. It also wanted a liberalised visa regime for its business travellers. “In services, professionals moving from India to the UK or the other way round are most likely to be Indian nationals or of Indian origin, so the issues have been sorted out,” the source said.

Among the other issues, the duties on whisky and automobiles were the two most sensitive issues for India.

In the auto sector, the reduction of tariffs on imports from the UK would be calibrated in a way that its impact on local manufacturing is minimal. In the spirits trade, both countries have narrowed their positions on immediate duty cuts and speed of cuts in coming years .

ALSO READ-Pakistan, GCC Sign Preliminary FTA

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Food Lite Blogs Restaurant Reviews

GONZO: A New Must-Try Pan-Asian Restaurant in Delhi

GONZO, A neighborhood restaurant and bar inspired by the bucket cocktail vans of Bangkok, the vast array of dumplings found across the streets of Asia and sizzling stone bowls loved by many gave Gonzo a unique identity that the brand creators felt was missing in Delhi. An exclusive feature by FnB columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International.

The Character inspiration behind Gonzo is Dr Gonzo portrayed by Johny Depp in the movie Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. This is the kind of vibe you can expect coming to Gonzo.

As the name suggests, Gonzo, resonates with carefree adventure so the restaurant have tried to have every element and corner of the restaurant to reflect a little bit of the wild and crazy that can be in all of us! Discerning diners will find a one of a kind live dumpling market, a nostalgic arcade with the favourite games of the 90s and a neon red glow to excite the senses while they sip and eat. 

Walk into Gonzo and get nostalgic playing some super mario, order up some dumplings and a cocktail bucket with your crew. Share some stories, enjoy some music, fuel your pan-Asian food cravings and Gonzo is all about a delectable meal experience. The service is attentive, the restaurant interiors are charming and vibe is exceptional for a neighbourhood restaurant. 

Gonzo sure gives delhiites an instant teleportation to the streets of Bangkok having cocktail buckets, street eats and creating fun memories! 

Gonzo is the brain child of and conceptualized by one of India’s leading Restaurant and Food consultant , Raminder Bakshi. Raminder Bakshi is the founder and leading advisor, developer and deft-risk mitigator at The Art Culinnaire. Raminder Bakshi, has more than almost three decades of experience in the Hospitality and F&B industry. His decisive leadership qualities, expertise and passion for his art have helped him in setting up many a Food Court, Multinational QSR, Hotels, Restaurants & Resorts.

He presents himself as a one-stop solution for all F&B related requirements, having acquired such diverse experiences in domestic as well as international markets with a fair understanding of “International Business Standards”. International markets into which he has forayed with great success and left his indelible mark include Jordon, New York, London, Melbourne, and Dubai.

At present he owns THE ART CULINNAIRE which specializes in conceptualization and execution of restaurants / hotels / base kitchens / banquets / outdoor catering / air catering services / institutional catering / quick service restaurants and much more. TAC also provides services like upgradation and updating of operational restaurants, facility planning, and recruitment of food and beverage personnel, product development, operational setup, technical trainings to staff and retainer ship of the day-to-day running of the business.

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-Top News India News

Delhi Declaration take tough stand on N-weapons  

Modi’s “today’s era isn’t of war” message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the backdrop of the Ukraine-Russia conflict has become part of the outcome statement of the G20 joint declaration at New Delhi…reports Asian Lite News

The “use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible”, G20 nations said Saturday in a New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration under the mention of the Ukraine war.

Without mentioning Russia, the G20 member countries recalled the Bali declaration and underscored that all States must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety and called for a “comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine” and reminded member states to “refrain from the threat, or use of force, to seek territorial acquisition”.

“Concerning the war in Ukraine, while recalling the discussion in Bali, we reiterated our national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly and underscored that all States must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety. In line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons are inadmissible,” the joint declaration read.

This is a historic moment as under India’s presidency 100 per consensus was reached on the New Delhi Declaration on Saturday, the first day of the G20 Summit.

Modi’s “today’s era isn’t of war” message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the backdrop of the Ukraine-Russia conflict has become part of the outcome statement of the G20 joint declaration at New Delhi.

Modi, in his statement to Putin in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Samarkand in September this year in the backdrop of the Ukraine-Russian conflict, had said, “today’s era not of war”.

“On the Russia-Ukraine crisis, India worked very closely with Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia and it was the emerging markets that played a very key role. India worked with all the emerging markets which played a key role, there were very tough and ruthless negotiations that went on for several days nonstop. In the end, the issue was clinched because of the leadership of the PM…”, said G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant in the joint press conference alongwith Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The New Delhi Declaration reaffirmed that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation and the member countries acknowledged that the G20 is not the platform for Geopolitical and security issues; although these issues can have consequences for the global economy.

Highlighting that G20 is not the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues, Jaishankar said that the leaders recognized that they can have significant consequences for the global economy, “In particular, they dwelt on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the impact it has had, especially on developing and least developing nations still recovering from the pandemic and economic disruption.”

The declaration, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the start of the second session of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, said that the New Delhi Declaration, “We highlighted the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth, which has complicated the policy environment for countries, especially developing and least developed countries which are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic disruption which has derailed progress towards the SDGs. There were different views and assessments of the situation.”

“We appreciate the efforts of Türkiye and UN-brokered Istanbul Agreements consisting of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat of the United Nations on Promoting Russian Food Products and Fertilizers to the World Markets and the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports (Black Sea Initiative), and call for their full, timely and effective implementation to ensure the immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilizers/inputs from the Russian Federation and Ukraine. This is necessary to meet the demand in developing and least developed countries, particularly those in Africa,” it added.

“…Considerable time was spent, especially in the last few days in regard to geo-political issues which really centred around the war in Ukraine. The question who helped? I mean, eventually, everybody helped because everybody came together for the consensus,” Jaishankar said.

Stating that the emerging economies played a major role in the Declaration to get adopted, “EAM said, “I think the emerging markets took a particular lead on this, and many of us have a strong history of working together. Bear in mind that actually, you have four developing countries in succession as G 20 presidency Indonesia, India, Brazil and South Africa but I would say rather than who helped? The point to be recognized is that a common landing point was ultimately fashioned out…”

Emphasising the importance of sustaining food and energy security, the G20 members called for the cessation of military destruction or other attacks on relevant infrastructure and expressed deep concern about the adverse impact that conflicts have on the security of civilians thereby exacerbating existing socio-economic fragilities and vulnerabilities and hindering an effective humanitarian response.

The G20 members called on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability.

“The peaceful resolution of conflicts, and efforts to address crises as well as diplomacy and dialogue are critical. We will unite in our endeavour to address the adverse impact of the war on the global economy and welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine that will uphold all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly, and good neighbourly relations among nations in the spirit of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’,” the New Delhi Declaration read.

EAM further said, “The three Fs Food, Fuel and Fertilisers were issues of special concern. Another subject addressed by them… was countering terrorism and money laundering. The leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations… Speaking for India, we are clear that no one is left behind. ‘No one left behind’ is as much a foreign policy goal as it is a domestic one…”

In a major win for India, the G20 adopted the New Delhi Leaders Summit Declaration after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that consensus had been reached among member states.

“Have just got the good news that due to the hard work of our teams and your cooperation, a consensus has been reached on New Delhi G20 Leaders Summit Declaration,” PM Modi. (ANI)

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