Monday, December 22, 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

    Opinion or Apprehension: India, US to deepen strategic ties, says Pakistan daily

    Opinion or Apprehension: India, US to deepen strategic ties, says Pakistan daily
    US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to New Delhi shows that the US and India are "determined ... to forge deeper and strategic ties", a Pakistani newspaper said Sunday....

    Opinion or Apprehension: India, US to deepen strategic ties, says Pakistan daily

    33 killed in Iraq violence

    33 killed in Iraq violence
    At least 33 people were killed and 94 were wounded in clashes with Sunni militants and bomb attacks across Iraq, sources said Saturday...

    33 killed in Iraq violence

    37 killed in China terror attack

    37 killed in China terror attack
    At least 37 civilians were killed and another 13 injured in a terrorist attack earlier this week in China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Xinhua reported Sunday....

    37 killed in China terror attack

    More Americans supporting working mothers: Study

    More Americans supporting working mothers: Study
    For working mothers, here comes a good news. More Americans now have an egalitarian view when it comes to view rols of men and women at home and work, according to a study....

    More Americans supporting working mothers: Study

    UN chief slams Hamas violation of Gaza truce

    UN chief slams Hamas violation of Gaza truce
    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday condemned "in the strongest terms" Hamas's violation of a mutually agreed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip...

    UN chief slams Hamas violation of Gaza truce

    When Jayewardene wanted to hang Prabhakaran

    When Jayewardene wanted to hang Prabhakaran
    Sri Lankan president J.R. Jayewardene asked Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986 to hand over Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran...

    When Jayewardene wanted to hang Prabhakaran