Attack on students, uranium sale to dominate Kevin Rudd’s Indian visit

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will visit India this week and will discuss hosts of issues including frequent attacks on Indian students, uranium sale and forging better bilateral ties.

Mr. Rudd on his two day visit will be travelling to Mumbai and New Delhi in what appears to be as a part of country’s damage control exercise after International students were attacked in Australia. His trip is expected to begin on Wednesday. Mr. Rudd is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday.

Sale of uranium from Australia to India and Mr. Rudd goverment’s stand to not give the same as New Delhi is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non—Proliferation Treaty is also expected to come up during the parleys, ahead of a review of the NPT next year.

Australia and India may use the visit to announce the start of negotiations towards a free trade agreement after a feasibility study reportedly found a deal to be favourable to both countries.