Congress Targets PM Modi as Trump Boycotts G20 Summit in South Africa: After US President Donald Trump announced that he and his administration would boycott the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a sharp dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as the “self-styled vishwaguru.”
Ramesh remarked on social media platform X (formerly Twitter),
“Now that President Trump has announced that he will not be attending the G20 Summit in South Africa on November 22–23, we can be certain that the self-styled vishwaguru will himself attend in person.”
His statement came shortly after Trump declared that no US government official would participate in the G20 meet, accusing South Africa of “human rights abuses” against white farmers — a claim repeatedly dismissed by the South African government.
PM Modi to Attend G20 Summit in Person
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the G20 Summit in person. Since assuming office in 2014, Modi has participated in every G20 meeting — from Brisbane (2014) to New Delhi (2023) — including those held in Antalya, Hangzhou, Hamburg, Buenos Aires, Osaka, Riyadh (virtual), Rome, and Bali.
Trump’s Justification for Boycotting the G20 in South Africa
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump condemned the decision to host the global summit in South Africa.
He wrote:
“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa. Afrikaners — people descended from Dutch, French, and German settlers — are being killed, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.”
Trump further added that he looks forward to hosting the 2026 G20 Summit in Miami, Florida.
The Trump administration has consistently accused South Africa’s government of turning a blind eye to violence against white farmers. However, Pretoria has strongly rejected these allegations, asserting that white South Africans continue to enjoy better socio-economic conditions than most Black citizens, even decades after the end of apartheid.
Congress’s Earlier Swipe at PM Modi
This isn’t the first time Jairam Ramesh has criticized the Prime Minister over international engagements. Earlier, he took aim at Modi for skipping the 22nd ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, claiming that the PM avoided a potential confrontation with President Trump during a trade dispute.
At the time, Modi had attended the summit virtually, citing Deepavali festivities in India as the reason for his absence.
Key Takeaways
- US President Donald Trump to boycott G20 Summit in South Africa.
- PM Narendra Modi to attend the summit in person.
- Congress leader Jairam Ramesh mocks Modi, calling him a “self-styled vishwaguru.”
- Trump accuses South Africa of human rights violations — claims dismissed by Pretoria.
- India’s Opposition continues to use global events to target Modi’s foreign policy stance.
