G20 Summit highlights: Delhi police assures of ‘flawless, fail-proof’ law and order during the event

Commuters had a harrowing time on Tuesday as they spent hours stuck up in jam-packed traffic on different stretches in central Delhi due to carcade rehearsal by city police for the G20 Summit.

Outer Ring Road near Indraprastha Park, C-Hexagon and Sardar Patel Marg were among the road stretches that saw heavy congestion. The vehicles were stuck on these road stretches for several kilometres.

Spouses of G20 leaders participating in the New Delhi Summit will inaugurate an exhibition dedicated to India’s civilisation prowess and artistic excellence, titled ‘Roots and Routes: Past Present and Continuous' on September 9 in the National Gallery of Modern Art, said official sources.

Sources also added that a 45-minute tour will be provided to spouses of leaders participating in G20.

"The Exhibition 'Roots and Routes' explores India's civilizational heritage, ethos and its inter-connectedness. The exhibition traces cultural marvels through Indian sagas based on archaeological artefacts, literature, numismatics, epigraphy, and paintings. The woven narrative is truly diverse and rich,” the Culture Ministry said in a statement.

Amid tight security arrangements, on September 9 and 10, the world's top leaders will gather at Delhi's Pragati Maidan for the G20 Summit. The Delhi Police have prohibited all online delivery services, except for medicines, in the New Delhi district.

However, there are questions regarding traffic restrictions and whether metro timings will be affected due to the high-profile summit. Check answers for some FAQs on this.

Announcing that China's Premier Li Qiang will be attending the G20 Summit in Delhi, scheduled for September 9 to 10, the foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters at a regular briefing that China always attaches great importance to the G20 grouping and actively participates in relevant activities.

"We support India in hosting this year’s summit and are ready to collaborate with all parties to ensure the success of the G20 Summit," she said regarding the conference to be held in New Delhi on September 9-10.

A political row erupted after a picture of G20 dinner invite that said President of Bharat’ instead of the convention ‘President of India’ went viral. While the ruling party ministers and other leaders widely supported the reference of country as ‘Bharat’, Opposition parties strongly criticised the stand. 

The Opposition parties have cited Article 1 of the Constitution to support their arguments on ‘Bharat’ vs ‘India’ row. Here's what the article states:

(1) India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.

(2) The States and the territories thereof shall be as specified in the First Schedule.

(3) The territory of India shall comprise —

(a) the territories of the States;

(b) the Union territories specified in the First Schedule; and

(c) such other territories as may be acquire.

• The inspiration for the 'G20 Logo' draws from India's national flag, incorporating the vibrant colors of the 'Tiranga' - saffron, white, green, and blue.

• This logo amalgamates a lotus in shades of white, green, and blue, with the addition of the Earth, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.

• In an era marked by the dire consequences of climate change on lives, property, and resources, the Earth within the logo serves as a poignant reminder of the pressing need for environmentally conscious choices. Below the G20 logo, you will ll find the word ‘Bharat’ written in the Devanagari script.

Delhi Police Special Commissioner, Law and Order Dependra Pathak said that G20 was a prestigious summit and the Delhi police are confident that “law and order arrangements would be flawless.”

"G20 is a prestigious summit. It is a matter of pride for India and Delhi. Delhi police have the focused responsibility of safety, security, law and order. We are taking it as a challenge. We are planning it with professional excellence and executing it on the ground. We are doing rehearsals for it. For the summit area, certain segments of Delhi police are focused." news agency ANI quoted Pathak as saying amid preparations ahead of the summit.

He further said “Other parts of Delhi, which affect the general perception of the summit, should also be flawless and fail-proof. We have made plans for it as its focus responsibility is with us.” 

Tibetans in exile will not hold any protest against the Chinese here during the G20 Summit in Delhi scheduled for this week as Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be attending the meeting.

“We wanted to do some movement during the G20 meeting if Xi Jinping were to attend the summit. Now we have heard that he is not coming,” news agency PTI quoted Dawa Tsering, a member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile as saying.

“He (Xi) is torturing the Tibetan people and he did not allow small children to study their own language. If my son wants to become a monk, he does not allow it. It is a cultural genocide. He is worse than Mao Zedong,” he further said.

The Leela Palace Hotel in Delhi is one among those prominent hotels to host G20 guests for the upcoming summit. Speaking about the preparations of G20 Summit, Pastry Chef Astik Oberoi says, “We have curated a culinary team and a wonderful set of amenities for our guests who are staying with us... While we are celebrating the International Year of millets, we have curated millet bars made using 5 types of millets... We have a variety of exotic tarts made with fresh berries and we also have an edible frame made with 100 percent chocolate which resonates G20. We have a variety of cheese that comes from local produce, made in India. We have Indian 'mithais' with an edible chocolate elephant which depicts the royal symbol at the Leela palace in New Delhi.”

The International Media Centre in Delhi is all set to welcome journalists from around the world during the upcoming G20 Summit. Check out the key features of this state-of-the-art facility:

• With high-speed internet connectivity, the media center boasts nine distinct work areas and cutting-edge studios.

• In addition to this, there are four media briefing rooms, six interview spaces, communal workspaces, and specifically allocated areas for foreign and embassy officials.

• The center also offers live reporting stations and more than 1300 individual workstations. It also includes two dedicated lounges, recreational zones, and media booths for the convenience of its visitors.

Delhi G20 Summit 2023 live updates: President Xi Jinping is not coming to India to attend this week’s Group of 20 or G20 Summit. 

– While Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declined to answer the reason behind Xi Jinping's decision to skip the G20 meeting, it's out in the open that relations between China and India have grown frosty over their disputed border.

– The announcement comes days after Beijing recently released a so-called “standard map” showing Arunachal and Aksai Chin as its parts, to which India strongly objected. 

Delhi G20 Summit 2023 live updates: One of the largest multilateral summits, the G20 Summit presents a significant diplomatic opportunity for India, which will convene with the adoption of join declaration by all the member states.

– The newly-built Bharat Mandapam, the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) at New Delhi's Pragati Maidan will host the event. It was earlier inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July.

Delhi G20 Summit 2023 live updates: China on Monday confirmed President Xi Jinping will skip the G20 Summit.

– The development comes speculation swirled in diplomatic circles about whether the grouping of 20 largest economies would overcome differences standing in the way of a joint leaders’ declaration.

– Premier Li Qiang will attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi during September 9-10 at the Indian government’s invitation.

Delhi G20 Summit 2023 live updates: The commuters travelling from Gurugram to Delhi could face traffic snarls through Tuesday due to the carpeting work being carried out on stretches of the road between Delhi airport and New Delhi district in preparation to welcome guests for the G20 Summit.

– On Tuesday morning, motorists complained of massive jams on the Sardar Patel Marg and adjoining roads in New Delhi district. 

– Sardar Patel Marg is the road connecting the New Delhi district to the airport.

Delhi G20 Summit 2023 live updates: On Security arrangements ahead of G20, Delhi Police Special Commissioner, Law & Order Dependra Pathak says, “G20 is a prestigious summit. It is a matter of pride for India and Delhi. Delhi police have the focused responsibility of safety, security, law and order... We are doing rehearsals for it...”

– He said, “For the summit area, certain segments of Delhi police are focused. Other parts of Delhi, which affect the general perception of the summit, should also be flawless and fail-proof. We have made plans for it as its focus responsibility is with us... We have analysed with the law and order groups where the G20 summit has taken place before...”

– “Elements of community policing like police friends, resident associations, market associations, home guards, civil defence etc. are also joined as force multipliers... We are taking help from para-military forces... Under strategic planning, We have ensured no mishap takes place…”

– “Delhi police is confident and we will leave no stone unturned and we will see to it that law and order arrangements are flawless... We are in real-time coordination with the central agencies on international elements related to G20…,” he said.

Delhi G20 Summit 2023 live updates: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent an invite for a G20 dinner on September 9 in the name of “President of Bharat” instead of the usual “President of India”. 

– In a post on X, he cited the Constitution’s Article 1 that “Bharat, that is India, shall be a Union of States” and added now even this “Union of States” is under assault.

– Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi can continue to distort history and divide India, that is Bharat, that is a Union of States. He added that they will not be deterred.

Delhi G20 Summit 2023 live updates: Delivery of online orders, and a host of other services will be prohibited for three days in the national capital's New Delhi district on account of this week's G20 Summit, the Delhi Police announced on Monday.

– Orders due to be delivered even through companies such as Amazon and Flipkart, too, are prohibited in the controlled New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) zone.

Delhi G20 Summit 2023 live updates: Ahead of the high-level G20 Summit, scheduled to be held at the sprawling Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi this week, the Delhi Metro has issued an advisory for commuters. 

– According to the Delhi Metro Police, the entry and exit gates of some sensitive stations will remain closed from September 8 to 10.

– The Delhi Police in its order have kept Dhula Kuan, Khan Market, Janpath, Supreme Court and Bhikaji Cama Place metro stations in the list of sensitive places.

Delhi G20 Summit 2023 live updates: Travel and access to the national capital during the G20 Summit days will be severely restricted, particularly in the New Delhi district — also known as the Lutyens’ Zone.

 — Here, only residents and those in essential services jobs will be allowed to enter after proving their identity, according to a traffic plan shared by the Delhi Police on Friday.