Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend November 21 virtual summit of the “BRICS-Plus” grouping that is being held to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict, officials confirmed, adding that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar would join the event instead. While the Prime Minister has declined attending the summit due to other commitments including campaigning for ongoing State Assembly elections in Rajasthan, the decision to miss appearing with other leaders from the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa grouping also indicates New Delhi’s discomfort with deliberations that would be critical of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
Unlike all other countries in the grouping, India has taken a stand that is closer to that of U.S. and other western countries, by not demanding a ceasefire by Israeli forces, and abstaining at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) vote on a resolution that called for a ceasefire, that all other BRICS-Plus members voted for. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazil President Lula Da Silva are expected to attend the summit, as is UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The BRICS Plus meeting, to be held at 6.30 p.m. today, comes just a day ahead of PM Modi hosting the G20 Virtual summit, and all eyes will be on references to the Israel-Hamas conflict in that grouping as well.
