CHOGM may be put off

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 25. Indian officials are keeping their fingers crossed on whether the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), would take place as scheduled from October 6 to 9 in Brisbane in Australia. Serious doubts have arisen on account of the security scenario and the other preoccupations of the world leaders since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee was scheduled to lead the Indian delegation, and was to leave from New Delhi on October 2 and visit Canberra and Sydney, besides also stopping in Bali (Indonesia) and Singapore. Officials, however, were disinclined to go on record whether the visit had been postponed; the word of postponement has to come from the host government.

Reports suggest that the host government has already made up its mind that the CHOGM be postponed, but before a formal announcement is made the Australian Government would want to hold consultation with the British Government.

The Queen, who is the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth, was to attend the opening.

Since British forces are likely to be part of the ``global force'' that the United States is trying to put together, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair may not want to be away from London, especially in view of the indications that the `action' would have been initiated by the end of the first week of October.

Also, it would be problematic for the other heads of Government to be away from their respective capitals in the midst of `action' against the Taliban.

Since there are a number of Muslim countries in the Commonwealth, the organisation may find it difficult to speak in one voice. Hence, the likelihood of a postponement.

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