Shortly after presentation of the union budget on February 28, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will leave for Australia to attend the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) where the issue of terrorism is likely to figure prominently.
Vajpayee, leading a high-power delegation, is expected to board the special flight next Thursday around 1300 hours, soon after finance minister presents the budget in Lok Sabha.
After a night's stopover in Bali, Indonesia, he will proceed to Brisbane on March 1 for the CHOGM slated to be held from March 2 to 4. Pakistan has not been invited to the CHOGM because of the Commonwealth's opposition to the military take over in that country.
This will be Vajpayee's second visit abroad since the December 13 attack on Parliament. The Prime Minister had attended the SAARC summit in Kathmandu last month.
Bureau Report