Sunday, December 21, 2025
ADVT 
International

Of 'Narendra' and 'Tony', selfies and hugs

Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Nov, 2014 11:28 AM
    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott have built a camaraderie over the past few months, especially the last five days.
     
    The two leaders clicked a selfie together and Abbott referred to Modi with his first name "Narendra", and said he is like a "brother".
     
    During his address to the Australian parliament, Modi also took a playful dig at Abbott, telling lawmakers that making them listen to him - the third head of government in three days to address parliament - was Abbott's way of "shirt-fronting" them.
     
    "I'm the third head of the government you are listening to this week, I do not know how you are doing this! May be, this is Prime Minister Abbott's way of shirt-fronting you," Modi said, to laughter from the lawmakers.
     
    He was referring to Abbott's threat to "shirt-front" Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 over the MH17 crash during their face-to-face encounter.
     
    However, when both Abbott and Putin were finally face to face, they indulged in some koala cuddle.
     
    "Shirt-fronting" is a term used in Australian rules football, referring to an aggressive, front-on physical challenge.
     
    Modi and Abbott also took an autographed selfie together, in a mark of their growing friendship, and exchanged warm hugs.
     
     
    "The relationship between the two of us has become very strong, and there is no formality between the two of us," Modi said, at a reception hosted by Abbott in the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
     
    He and Abbott shook hands smiling widely and the Australian prime minister gave him a warm hug.
     
    The two prime ministers then posed for an autographed selfie, smiling and chatting.
     
    The selfie was posted on the Modi's twitter handle, with the words "With my friend @TonyAbbottMHR at the MCG".
     
    He also tweeted: "PM @TonyAbbottMHR came in September. He was the first guest since we formed the Government."
     
    "People asked me isn't it too soon to visit Australia after @TonyAbbottMHR just visited. I said I can't say no to my friend Tony," went the tweet.
     
    Their camaraderie was reflected during the reception at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) where Abbott said Modi is like a "brother".
     
    "Narendra and I," Abbott said on a couple of occasions, while Modi called him "Tony".
     
    Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Australia in 28 years after Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.
     
    The two leaders also shared a hug when Abbott welcomed him to the G20 in Brisbane.
     
    Modi visited four cities - Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne - during his five-day visit to Australia.
     
    Abbott was in India in September, the first head of government to pay a bilateral visit to the Modi government which took over in May.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Obama to convene UN summit on foreign fighters threat

    Obama to convene UN summit on foreign fighters threat
    US President Barack Obama will convene a Security Council summit on "growing and dangerous phenomenon" of foreign terrorist fighters, American...

    Obama to convene UN summit on foreign fighters threat

    Ebola outbreak racing out of control, says UN officials

    Ebola outbreak racing out of control, says UN officials
    The Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa is racing ahead of efforts to control it and at least $600 million is needed to get the unprecedented epidemic under...

    Ebola outbreak racing out of control, says UN officials

    Earth set for close encounter with asteroid

    Earth set for close encounter with asteroid
    At the time of closest approach, 2014 RC will be approximately one-tenth the distance from the centre of the Earth to the moon, or about 40,000 km....

    Earth set for close encounter with asteroid

    Tech Insiders: Firms Implemented Plans To Stem Spread Of Grisly Video After Syria Beheading

    Tech Insiders: Firms Implemented Plans To Stem Spread Of Grisly Video After Syria Beheading
    Tech companies drafted plans to scrub the web after a grisly video showing the beheading of an American journalist by Islamic State militants - and implemented them this week after a second killing, a Silicon Valley insider said Wednesday.

    Tech Insiders: Firms Implemented Plans To Stem Spread Of Grisly Video After Syria Beheading

    NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade organizers say gay group to march under own banner for 1st time

    NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade organizers say gay group to march under own banner for 1st time
    NEW YORK, N.Y. - Organizers of next year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City say a gay group will be allowed to march under its own banner for the first time....

    NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade organizers say gay group to march under own banner for 1st time

    Online or in cloud systems, privacy can be an elusive concept, as photo hacking case shows

    Online or in cloud systems, privacy can be an elusive concept, as photo hacking case shows
    Whether famous or seemingly anonymous, people from all walks of life put all sorts of things online or into cloud-based storage systems, from vital financial...

    Online or in cloud systems, privacy can be an elusive concept, as photo hacking case shows