AFP

NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 07:28

It cannot escape anyone visiting the Indian capital New Delhi: India is hosting the G20. There are gigantic billboards all over the city that refer to the international summit of economic superpowers.

India is portrayed as ‘ambitious’, ‘a world leader’ and the ‘mother of democracy’. Prime Minister Modi is prominently featured on all billboards. Critics speak of a disguised election campaign.

Reactions are divided at Connaught Place, the largest market in central New Delhi. “The fact that the G20 is here now is thanks to Modi,” says student Saima. “He has built up very good relations with other countries. Because the G20 is here, Indian young people abroad will find a job much more easily.”

Munit Vats thinks that India has gained more prestige worldwide under Modi. “In the past, Indians were discriminated against abroad. You heard stories of Indians being beaten up in Australia. You never hear that anymore. That is clear thanks to Modi.”

Others are not impressed. “The G20 is organized once in every country, so that it is now in India is not such a big achievement,” says Nitesh Kumar Mishra, who is shopping with Shruti Tyagi. She is proud of the prime minister. “It is good that we have such a strong face to represent India on international platforms,” she says. She hopes that hosting the G20 will be a stepping stone to an even better position on the world stage. “We don’t have much power. It would be nice if we could have veto power.” In doing so, she refers to an equal place between the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

AFPWelcome billboard featuring Prime Minister Modi

Janta Camp, a few hundred meters away from the brand new conference center where the G20 summit will be held tomorrow and Sunday, has a very different atmosphere. Much of the slum was demolished in the run-up to the G20. The remaining inhabitants are trapped by blockades. They can only enter or leave the neighborhood via a narrow bridge over a wide open sewer. “The children can’t reach their school, people can’t get to work on time,” says a resident. “What good is the G20 for people? Our problems have increased because of it,” says another.

The demolition of slums is one of the measures taken by the government in the run-up to the summit. Street dogs and monkeys were also removed from the city center as much as possible.

Closed centre

Now, just before the top, the dots are put on the i. Flower beds are raked, streets swept. Ugly things along the route that the world leaders travel are hidden from view with walls and signs in cheerful colors. The center of the city is almost completely closed off in front of the top.

“They show the visitors positive things, but not the lesser things, and that’s often the case,” says a passerby. “They should also show them the slums and the dirty water of the river Yamuna,” he says. “Geopolitically, India may become more important. But if you look at the facts and statistics, I don’t think there is much economic growth.”

The question is also whether the many billboards portraying Prime Minister Modi as a world leader will help him in parliamentary elections next year. Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, who wrote a biography about Modi, thinks not. “The average Indian is not really interested in international relations,” he says. “The government and Modi are trying to give the impression that no prime minister has been treated with as much respect as Modi is now. But the reality is that little has been done to convince people that India is now a world leader.”

2023-09-08 05:28:07
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