Foriegn visits to India cancelled due to PM's ill-health

At least four incoming visits to India – two by presidents and two by prime ministers – have been cancelled on account of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ill-health and surgery.

At least four incoming visits to India – two by presidents and two by prime ministers – have been cancelled on account of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ill-health and surgery.

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A South Block official said on Tuesday that visits by Nambaryn Enkhbayar and Cristina Kirchner, presidents of Mongolia and Argentina, and by Fredrik Reinfeldt and Kevin Rudd, prime ministers of Sweden and Australia, had been put off.

Also, Defence Minister AK Antony, who was to visit Japan on a previously-scheduled trip, decided not to go in view of his commitments at home.

All key foreign visitors, aware of how the Indian system works, would obviously like to meet the Prime Minister. Given that Dr. Singh was in hospital, and now recuperating at home, it was decided to cancel these four visits.

Now that India will be in general election mode, only the month of February and, possibly, the early part of March will be available to foreign dignitaries wanting to visit New Delhi.

One visit that is going ahead is that of Vice-President Hamid Ansari to Myanmar (February 5-8).