Modi scraps Brussels visit

Upset by what the government perceives as a snub from the European Union, India has called off plans for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's travel to Brussels during his visit to Europe and Canada next month.

The incident could set off a bigger row as the decision comes just as a high-level delegation of EU parliamentarians, including two senior most members of the European Parliament in charge of relations with India, Geoffrey Van Orden, and Neena Gill, are in India for official meetings and to address trade ties that have been lagging in the past year.

Officials confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs had informed the EU, headquartered in Brussels, some weeks ago that the Prime Minister would be travelling to Hannover in Germany and later to France in April, and suggested holding the EU-India summit during the visit.

However, after receiving no reply from the EU for a month, the MEA has decided to continue with the plans without Brussels on the Prime Minister's agenda. He will now continue from Europe to Canada for the second leg of his eight-day tour.

In a written response to a question from The Hindu on the issue, the EU however, said it was still working on dates for the summit.

The incident has taken on a more political tone as reports suggest that the EU's unusual behaviour reflects anger over the treatment of the two Italian marines charged with the killing of Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala.