J&K, Ladakh likely to host eight events

Deep Sharma
Jammu: The two newly created Union Territories Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are likely to host 8 events to showcase economic potential, tourism assets, and culture before the world powers.
“Six events in Jammu and Kashmir and two in Ladakh are likely on the schedule,” an official source told The News Now. He added that the Shankaracharya Temple in Kashmir while Leh palace, Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery in Leh illuminated with G20 logo as India Assumes formally takes over the G20 presidency.
While the G20 leaders’ summit –the top event –shall be held in New Delhi on September 9 and 10, 2023, under its presidency year India has lined up 200 events to be held in different parts of the country.
Sessions like T-20 summit, think tank summit, W-20 women’s summit and Y-20 youth summit are among the 200 events that will be held as part of the G20 summit. These seminars and meetings will focus on health, labour, finance, environment, education, renewable energy, climate change, the pandemic and other important issues around the world.
By planning to host some G20 events in Jammu and Kashmir, India has made a major diplomatic statement to the world community, particularly to China and Pakistan. Soon after it was known that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories shall be the venues for some of the G20 events, China and Pakistan were quick to raise their objection. Interestingly, China is also a member of the G20 grouping. Pakistan is also reported to have reached Islamabad’s key allies China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to leverage their influence but that has not yielded any response. The world community, particularly the G20 members have not reacted to China’s and Pakistan’s criticism of holding global events in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
By holding the G20 events in Jammu and Kashmir, India also wants to convey to the world that the restive region is back to normalcy and ready for businesses. It is seen as a bold and audacious diplomatic statement to the world asserting that Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India.
Following the reading down of Article 370, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of India organised two high-profile visits of international dignitaries to Kashmir. There was a delegation of Diplomats and one of the European Parliamentarians who met with a select group of people in Srinagar and Jammu.
On June 23, the Jammu and Kashmir governments constituted a five-member high-level committee under Principal Secretary Dheeraj Gupta for coordination with the Center on hosting G20 meetings in the Union Territory.
Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a committee…for overall co-ordination of G-20 meetings to be held in the Union Territory of J&K,” the order issued by the General Administration Department, had said. The members of the committee include Commissioner Secretary (Transport), Administrative Secretary (Tourism), Administrative Secretary (Hospitality and Protocol) and Administrative Secretary (Culture). “Further, principal secretary to the government, housing and urban development department is also nominated as UT level nodal officer to coordinate the arrangements for G-20 meetings in the Union Territory of J&K,” the order said.
On July 27, Ladakh’s Lt Governor R K Mathur has cleared the nominations of Divisional Commissioner Saugat Biswas and Leh-Kargil Range DIG Junaid Mehmood as nodal officers to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, which houses the G-20 secretariat.
Updated On 12/2/2022 11:45:04 AM

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