Modi seeks ideas from public before Australia visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought suggestions from the public on his forthcoming visit to Australia, where he will attend a G-20 summit in Brisbane and have a bilateral meeting with his Aussie counterpart Tony Abbott in Canberra. 

Modi has called upon the people —both in India and Australia—to share their ideas on My Gov—the online citizen engagement forum launched by his government last July to interact with the public. 

Apart from outlining his vision on global economy in the G-20 summit in Brisbane and seeking to strengthen bilateral ties with Canberra, Modi is likely to interact with the Indian community and Australians with roots to India. 

“During my Australia visit in November, I would be attending a variety of programmes, including an interaction with the Indian community there,” Modi posted on micro-blogging site Twitter. 

“I want to hear ideas and thoughts from all of you, including friends in Australia and the Indian community there on my visit,” he tweeted on Sunday. The government has started an open forum on My Gov on Prime Minister’s visit to Australia. 

“Participate in this My Gov Open Forum and share your ideas on what you feel are important issues for my Australia visit: http://mygov.in/groupissue/prime-minister-in-australia/show,” Modi tweeted. 

Sources said that the suggestions received from public would be vetted by the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of External Affairs and other relevant ministries and would be factored in while planning his itinerary and agenda in Brisbane and Canberra. 

Modi has made interactions with “Non-Resident Indians” and “People of Indian Origin” a must for all his major foreign visits.