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'Blood on Your Hands': Australian PM Rebuked For Threats to Jail India Travel Ban Offenders

© AP Photo / Mark MetcalfeAustralian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during the unveiling of a Gandhi statue in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during the unveiling of a Gandhi statue in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018 - Sputnik International, 1920, 04.05.2021
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Scott Morrison's government moved to forbid travellers coming from India to enter Australia until 15 May. The government threatened rule-breakers, including Australian citizens, with prison time.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been fending off accusations of racism as he backed down from his threats to imprison people entering Australia from COVID-hit India.

Morrison's promise of jail time was severely criticised by Australians as well as Indians who claimed that the proposal "smacked of racism". 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives at Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan, November 17, 2020. - Sputnik International, 1920, 03.05.2021
Australian PM Defends Decision to Jail, Impose Fines on India Returnees Amid Racism Allegations
However, on Tuesday morning, Morrison said in a TV interview that it was highly unlikely that Australians who flouted the ban would be jailed.

The Australian government's threats of imprisonment created anxiety among an estimated 9,000 Australians in India. The decision was made at a time when members of the Australian cricket team were visiting India for the prestigious and lucrative Indian Premier League cricket series, which was suspended on Tuesday because several players tested positive for coronavirus.

Commentator and former cricket player Michael Slater was one of those who bitterly attacked Morrison, calling his decision a disgrace.

"Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this," Slater said in an angry tweet.

​Morrison excused his move during the TV interview saying: "There have been a lot of difficult decisions during COVID-19 and people will criticise me and my government for it. I am not going to fail Australia. I am going to protect our borders at this time."

Australia has imposed a blanket ban on travel to and from India unless an exemption is granted in advance. Non-residents are largely banned from entering, and anyone entering the country must carry out a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine.

India's COVID-19 tally has, meanwhile, exceeded 20 million, after it registered more than 300,000 new coronavirus cases for a 12th straight day.

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