Y20 Pre-Summit Under G20 Begins in Ladakh, 30 Nations Participate

Srinagar: Over 100 delegates from 30 countries on Wednesday arrived in Ladakh Union territory for the Y-20 pre-summit being held in the region from April 26 to April 28.

The major event, being hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, began with the arrival of the delegates at the summit location on Tuesday, followed by day-long visitation and cultural and heritage programmes throughout the day.

The delegates witnessed the impressive local mask dance at the Hemis monastery in Leh and also visited the Leh Palace and the Thiksey monastery to experience the region’s “unique traditions”. 

Lieutenant Governor Ladakh B D Mishra is expected to address the delegates at the Sindhu Sanskriti Auditorium. On the last day of the pre-summit, Union Minister Anurag Thakur would also likely interact with the delegates and participate in a youth dialogue.

The conference is the first major global event being held in Ladakh since the status of Ladakh was changed from being a part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into a UT. The region has since witnessed a political turmoil and series of protests against the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A that reserved special rights over land and jobs for locals.

Tension also peaked in the newly carved out territory after Chinese ingress in the eastern parts following a border escalation in 2020 that resulted in the killing of at least 20 soldiers. Amongst the countries China has skipped the meeting.

India has assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2022 for one year and the event is being organised under the theme “One Earth One Family One Future”.

On Tuesday senior administrative officials including Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Joint Secretary G20 , Saugat Biswas, Divisional Commissioner, Ladakh addressed the media at the curtain raiser of the pre-summit.

The meeting is expected to focus on the five Y20 themes of Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance, Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation and 21st Century Skills, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life, Peace Building and Reconciliation: Ushering in an era of No War and Health, Wellbeing and Sports: Agenda for Youth.

Prominent social activist Sajjad Kargili termed it a welcome step that a global event was taking place in Ladakh. Kargili said environmental concerns and challenges faced by Ladakh should also be included in the discussions and that the efforts should be made to work toward a fruitful solution against the global climate crisis and global warming.

“We also hope that the slogan of democracy in India, which is considered as the mother of democracy, takes a practical shape and reflects on the ground. It is the responsibility of the ruling dispensation that they take action against the rising hatred in the country. Steps must be taken to de-radicalise people from the majority community to promote peace and brotherhood,” he told NewsClick.