The third G20 tourism working group meeting kicked off in Srinagar and the ubiquitous, Oscar-winning ‘Naatu Naatu’ made an appearance with the movie’s star Ram Charan and Korean ambassador Chang Jae-bok shaking a leg to the irresistible number. To the pleasure of internet users, the Korean embassy in Delhi earlier this year shared a video showing Chang and embassy personnel dancing to the song. The Centre asserted that the meeting had an "overwhelming response" from member nations and special invitees, the highest of any G20 summit to date.
Official delegations from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt were also conspicuously absent. China stayed away after objecting to hosting any G20 meetings on "disputed territory" and warning that "unilateral actions" like hosting such meetings could worsen the situation.
The Centre made it clear that all nations -aside from China -were represented by their own travel agencies and tour companies. “The tourism working group meeting in Kashmir has had an overwhelming response. Travel and tourism is totally a private sector activity. Many countries wanted to join virtually, but we wanted physical participation. The other countries are being represented by their tour operators and travel agents,” G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant said.
NIA arrests JeM terrorist
Just ahead of the G20 meet, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained a Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) operative who allegedly passed on sensitive security information, especially on movement of security forces in J&K, to his Pakistan-based handlers. Incriminating documents seized from Mohd Ubaid Malik of Kupwara reinforced his involvement in terror activities while being in constant touch with a JeM commander in Pakistan, an NIA spokesman said.