Albanese hails Modi as ‘the boss’ with Sydney turnout of more than 20,000 fans
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rock star status among the diaspora was on full display as he opened his address to a gathering of compatriots in Australia, to chants of “Modi, Modi, Modi”.
More than 20,000 people turned up on Tuesday for a “community reception” for Modi at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney – a stadium venue usually reserved for big-budget pop concerts and shows.
After some four hours of entertainment, including Indian cultural performances, Modi arrived at the venue dressed in his usual crisp kurta, accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“The last time I saw someone on the stage here was Bruce Springsteen, and he didn’t get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got,” Albanese said before inviting his counterpart to the stage. “Prime Minister Modi is the boss!”
In a speech reminiscent of the ones he gave when he was last in Australia in 2014, as well as in places such as New York and Silicon Valley, Modi roused the crowd with details of India’s global highlights as an economic, technological and political powerhouse.
“India has no shortage of capability or resources. Today, India is the biggest and youngest talent factory … India is the mother of democracy,” he said in a mostly Hindi speech that lasted about 45 minutes.
Albanese’s welcome address carried similar undertones.
“You have brought the spirit of the world’s biggest democracy to Australia,” Albanese said. “And you have helped make our democracy stronger and more inclusive.”
Modi had been scheduled to attend a Quad security meeting alongside his bilateral visit to Sydney, before it was cancelled because of United States President Joe Biden’s last-minute withdrawal.
The Quad alliance, which also includes Japan, has been described as “the Asian version of Nato” that seeks to counter China.
A group of Khalistan supporters gathered outside the venue to protest against Modi’s visit, according to accounts on social media.
The Khalistan movement seeks to establish an independent state for followers of India’s minority Sikh religion.
Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has been accused of stoking anti-Sikh sentiments and perpetrating other abuses against minority groups such as Indian Muslims.