Rudd's return will slow down the India-Oz relationship

Ahigh -ranking Indian d i p lomat often expressed his exasperation widi Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in his first te rm of office, as to his leanings towa rds China. The sentiment in South Hall was that tmder Rudd, the Australia- China re lationship was a bit more warm and cosy than it needed ro be. India was frustrated at die way the Labor Party under Kevin Rudd rebuffed India's cliplomats, especially in d1e area of uranium sales. In the dyi n g days of the Howard government, it was announced that should the Coalition return co power, they would initiate steps to sell uranium to India. However, wim Labor caking cont:rol in 2007, in his first stint at prime ministership, Kevin Rudd made no moves to progress any cliscussion on this ropic; in fact, it was put on the back burner.

lt was under the next prime minister Julia Gillard, that me Labor caucus end orsed die sale of die p recious yellow cake to Ind ia. Interestingl y enough, this decision seemingly was undertaken w ithout consulting he r then Foreign Ministe r Rudd, who was only informed of this after i t ,vas p ublicly an nounced. This decision was made in December 20 11 and to date Ii ttle progress has been made in practical terms. O n e expects thac: under the reincarnation of Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister, not much will happen in th is regard. Interestingly, Rudd supporters, such as current Deputy Prime J\,[inister Anthony Albanese and Labor stalwart Doug Cameron, both disagreed with the then P1vf G illard's decision. 2008- 2009 was the per iod when the smdents' crisis had rocked the relations between India and Australi a. An endur ing i mage from the time is th at of Rudd's effigy be ing burnt by demonstrato rs outside di e Australian High Commission in India. While this was certainly not pleasant, it further distanced Kevin Ru dd from all diings lndian.

As co how the Indian community in A u stralia reacts to the change of leadership in the Labor Party will be interesting to observe. Over the past few months, there hHs been a concerted effort by the subcontinent friends of Labor to reach om to the lnclians in Australia. Parmer PM G il lard's visit co me Park.lea gurudwara, a m eet-and-greet w ith selected rueclia at Kirribilli House,