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Modi Dials Australian PM as He Cancels India Trip Over Bushfires

Morrison was scheduled to hold extensive bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called off his four-day visit to India from 13 January due to devastating wildfires in several parts of his country, diplomatic sources told PTI on Friday, 3 January.

Morrison was scheduled to hold extensive bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.

Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation with Morrison, PM Modi conveyed his heartfelt condolences on behalf of all Indians on damage to life and property due to the prolonged bushfires.

PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to strengthen its strategic partnership with Australia. He stated that to this end, he looked forward to welcoming the PM of Australia in India on a State Visit at a mutually convenient time later in the year.
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The Australian prime minister was also scheduled to deliver the inaugural address at the Raisina Dialogue, the flagship annual lecture series organised by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Besides Delhi, Morrison also planned to visit Mumbai and Bengaluru. “Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called off his visit to India due to the serious situation arising out of bush fires in several parts of Australia," a diplomatic source told PTI.

Bushfires have ripped through the states of New South Wales and Victoria, killing at least 20 people and destroying nearly 500 homes.

About 4,000 people, including nearly 3,000 tourists, were stranded in Victoria's Mallacoota region since they were forced to take shelter on the foreshore as the fire approached on New Year's eve.

Australian authorities on Thursday declared a state of emergency and forced evacuation of residents, tourists and closure of roads in the bushfire zones in the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria ahead of Saturday's forecast of "horrible" fire conditions due to the intensified heat wave.

During a press conference in Bairnsdale in Victoria, the prime minister had said, “The National Security Committee is going to hook up actually in the morning on this. I’m inclined not to proceed with that visit (to India).”
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“There are some issues that I need to resolve formally, through what you would expect when you make a decision of that nature. To work though those issues with the other ministers. But that is my inclination at this point, I’ll make a further announcement on that and we will make the arrangements accordingly.” 
Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister

Last month, Morrison had come under fire and was forced to cut short a holiday to Hawaii just before Christmas following the bushfire conditions.

On Thursday, during his visit to the bushfire hit NSW South Coast town of Cobargo, Morrison was also heckled by angry locals.

He later told ABC news channel that he came to Cobargo to “see it for myself, to offer what comfort I could, but you can't always in every circumstances”.

“I'm not surprised people are feeling very raw at the moment,” Morrison had said adding “I understand the very strong feelings people have. They've lost everything and there are still some very dangerous days ahead.”

Media reports said that a planned trip to Japan is also in doubt.

(With inputs from PTI)

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