modi visit to sydney 2023

Modi-Albanese talks focussed on 11 bilateral topics

Indian foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra also said that the talks held between the Prime Ministers of India and Australia focussed on 11 bilateral topics.

'PM Modi-Albanese talks based on trade and investment'

Foreign secretary Vijay Mohan Kwatra on Wednesday said that the talks held between PM Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese were based on trade an investment.

PM Modi in Australia: A briefing by foreign secretary Vijay Mohan Kwatra's on PM Modi's Australia visit in under way.

PM Anthony Albanese and I have in the past discussed the issue of attack on temples in Australia and activities of separatist elements. We discussed the matter today also. It is not acceptable to us that anyone hurt the friendly and cordial ties between India and Australia by their actions or ideology. PM Albanese assured me once again today that he will take strict actions against such elements in the future also.

Narendra Modi, PM

PM Modi in Australia Live: In cricketing terminology India, Australia are firmly in T-20 mode: PM Modi on Twitter

Thousands of overseas Indians cheered Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a campaign-style rally in one of Sydney’s biggest sporting arenas.

Modi, who is visiting Australia for the first time since 2014, will look to use his popularity among expatriate Indians to boost support at home ahead of the general elections next year, after his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost a key state election in southern India this month.

Keep reading

Bbc gets india court summons in defamation case over modi film, how did modi lose karnataka — and could he lose india, at us rally, modi backs trump, takes aim at pakistan, biden to host india’s modi at white house next month.

Thousands of supporters thronged the 21,000-capacity Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, one of the city’s biggest indoor stadiums which has hosted international stars like Bruce Springsteen and the Backstreet Boys, though there were significant numbers of empty seats as Modi began his speech.

The Indian leader, who arrived to cheers from the crowd after a programme of song and dance from across India, paid tribute to the many connections between the two countries, from cricket and tennis to films and Indian street food in Sydney.

‘Modi is the boss!’

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese played the warm-up act and emcee.

To chants of “Modi! Modi! Modi!”, Albanese introduced his “dear friend” to a jazzed-up crowd of Indian-Australians, who he praised for making Australia “stronger and more inclusive”.

“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.

“Prime Minister Modi is the boss!” he said, breaking into a broad smile and boasting the pair had met six times in the past year.

Australia and India are closer friends and partners than ever before. Welcome to Australia, Prime Minister @narendramodi . 🇦🇺🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/YgotdFalKm — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 23, 2023

It was an unusually personal show of support for Modi – a Hindu nationalist leader who faces re-election next year and has been criticised for sustained democratic backsliding and discrimination against India’s 200 million Muslims and other minorities.

Modi reciprocated his host’s lavish welcome, offering a long list of interests that bind the two countries: from cricket to curry, yoga to Masterchef.

“The most important foundation of our ties is mutual trust and mutual respect,” he said in Hindi, promising trade between the two countries would double in the next five years.

He also announced the opening of a new consulate in Brisbane.

Modi is known to put up big shows during his overseas trips and has addressed packed stadiums in the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries that have large expatriate Indian populations.

A chartered Qantas flight rebranded as “Modi Airways” brought in fans from Melbourne, while “Modi Express” was being chartered from Queensland, ABC News reported.

At a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, the two leaders will discuss trade and investment , renewable energy, and defence and security cooperation.

“Australia and India share a commitment to a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Albanese said in a statement.

Albanese in March this year visited India, including Modi’s home state of Gujarat, during a four-day visit.

India is Australia’s sixth largest trading partner, while about 750,000 people in Australia claim Indian ancestry. Almost 90,000 Indian students are enrolled at Australian universities, the largest overseas contingent after China.

Despite his popularity and strongman image, Modi is a divisive figure at home and abroad. Critics say religious polarisation has increased since his Hindu nationalist BJP came to power in 2014, and that the country’s minority Muslims are being marginalised.

Under Modi, “the world’s largest democracy” has become much less free and more dangerous for his critics, according to Human Rights Watch’s Elaine Pearson.

“Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has been tightening its grip on civil society, using draconian laws to arrest and intimidate activists, journalists, opposition leaders, academics, peaceful protesters, and critics of government policies,” she said.

A BBC documentary , banned in India, that questioned Modi’s actions during the Gujarat riots two decades ago, will be aired in the Australian parliament on Wednesday, SBS News reported, quoting a group called “We the Diaspora”.

Dozens of people campaigning for an independent state in India’s Punjab province protested outside the venue, shouting anti-Modi slogans and waving flags of the so-called Khalistan movement.

Modi, who is known for never addressing a news conference, will not be speaking to the media at any of his engagements in Australia.

• Australia edition
• Europe edition
• International edition

Narendra Modi in Australia: a polarising leader meets a divided Indian diaspora

More than 20,000 supporters are expected at a public rally for the Indian PM in Sydney this week. But critics will be just as strident

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast

T he public events speak to Narendra Modi’s popularity among supporters - the adoring crowds waving banners, the car convoys and privately chartered “ModiAirways” flights for those who will travel thousands of kilometres to hear him speak.

But for the same man, posters have sprung up around Sydney – before being torn down – offering $10,000 for the citizen’s arrest of the “Hindu Terrorist Modi” and graffiti has been daubed on a Hindu temple in western Sydney reading: “Declare Modi Terrorist”.

The Indian prime minister will land in Australia this week as one of the most powerful leaders in his country’s modern history. But also one of its most divisive.

He leads an increasingly polarised country. India’s diasporas, too, are increasingly split.

The Sydney broadcaster Manbir Singh Kohli, who hosts the weekly Kehte Sunte (Speaking & Listening) radio program, says: “In India, the schisms between communities are getting sharper.

“And unfortunately we are seeing that in Australia too, a polarisation of our communities is worse than it has ever been – the trolling, the division. Earlier, the Indian diaspora used to be proud together but now we are divided.”

India is now the most populous country on Earth and demographics, properly harnessed, are on its side: its economy will surpass those of Germany and Japan in the next half-decade to become the third largest in the world, behind the US and China.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Modi’s government claims its policies – addressing food security, banking, pensions – have lifted millions of India’s poorest from poverty.

But its leader, dominant as he approaches the end of his second term as prime minister and poised to win a third, is profoundly controversial.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government is accused of a repressive and intimidatory campaign against political opponents – including scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty Rahul Gandhi – independent media and civil society organisations.

Legislation such as the citizenship amendment bill has been criticised as unlawfully discriminating against Muslims , while the farm bills deregulating agricultural markets were abandoned only after more than a year of fervent protests and several hundred deaths.

Modi’s government is even accused of attempting to rewrite history to fit its Hindu nationalist agenda , with school textbooks edited to remove references to Mahatma Gandhi’s opposition to Hindu nationalism, to the country’s Mughal history – the Muslim rulers who controlled significant parts of India for centuries – and to the 2002 anti-Muslim pogrom in Godhra, which claimed more than 1,000 lives and in which Modi, then chief minister of the state of Gujarat, was implicated.

Critics of Modi’s government argue he has sought, through the vast power of his BJP, to reinvent the very idea of India: the pluralist, secular conception of India of Jawaharlal Nehru undermined and eroded, and replaced by the BJP’s vision of a country dominated by its aggressive Hindu nationalism, with places only at the margins for India’s multiplicity of minorities.

Modi will speak at a boisterous public rally – a mix of music, dance and politics at which more than 20,000 people are expected – at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday, hosted by the Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation (IADF). Privately chartered flights – publicised as yatra , akin to pilgrimage – will bring supporters from interstate.

“He attracts this huge crowd for his exemplary and visionary leadership that is transforming and developing India at an unprecedented pace,” Jay Shah, director of the IADF, says.

“PM Modi is the most popular leader of India at the moment and has a great appeal and following, not just in India but also in many Indians living abroad.”

In 2014, Modi was the first Indian prime minister to visit Australia since Rajiv Gandhi, during the premiership of Bob Hawke. Shah says Modi vowed on that trip Indian leaders would come more regularly to Australia.

“He is keeping his promise and visiting again … This … reflects the speed at which the relationship is growing between our two countries.”

Of the criticism that clings to Modi, Shah says it reflects India’s robust democracy.

“We respect the fact that people can have different views.

“Mr Modi and his government contend that all policies are aimed at addressing specific challenges and ensuring safety and wellbeing of all citizens of India.”

after newsletter promotion

‘Australia should speak frankly’

Kohli, however, argues Modi’s “abrasive” government has abandoned democratic accountability to parliament or to the Indian people.

“This government doesn’t answer to anybody on anything. There is no accountability, we have seen that in the Adani controversy [Modi’s close links to tycoon Gautam Adani] or over the farm bills.”

“Australia is seeking to strengthen its relationship with India,” Kohli says – economically, with a new free trade agreement in force and the recognised potential of India’s growing market and rising middle class; but also geo-strategically, in alliances such as the Quad serving as a counterpoint to China’s growing influence.

But Kohli says Australia should take a firmer line in its dealings with Modi’s government.

“Modi is a powerful leader. But if you’re a good friend of somebody you can also be critical politely,” he says. “Australia should speak frankly.”

The Indian Muslim Association of Australia has not planned any protests against Modi during his Australian visit. Public officer Sirajuddin Syed says the organisation respects the position of prime minister of India while rejecting the policies of the man holding the office.

“India is home to more than 200 million Muslims, but under Narendra Modi’s government Indian Muslims have faced systemic discrimination, prejudice and violence despite constitutional protections.”

Dr Pradeep Taneja, academic fellow with the Australia India Institute, says Modi is seen by his most ardent followers as an almost “messianic” leader, but by his detractors as a dangerously divisive figure “who has polarised Indian society along religious lines”.

“There is no doubt that some of the Modi government’s populist policies, such as increased cooking gas connections and other subsidies, have benefited people regardless of caste or religion,” Taneja says.

“But it is also true that Modi and other ruling party figures frequently engage in what can only be described as ‘dog-whistle politics’ targeting India’s largest minority. This is also reflected in the rewriting of Indian history, changing of place and street names across the country and the tolerance of violent acts against the minority community.”

The Quad meeting that was Modi’s primary reason for visiting Australia has been cancelled through the absence of the US president, Joe Biden. But Modi has chosen to come to Australia regardless, a further sign that Australia and India’s “interests are much more aligned today than ever before in history”, Taneja says.

He agrees Australia has a “difficult line to walk” in its dealings with Modi’s government.

“The reality is that Australia and India need to work together to deal with the changed security situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

“So long as Modi is popularly elected by the Indian electorate, I don’t think Australia would gain anything by publicly criticising Indian government policies. Instead, Australia should communicate the message indirectly by emphasising its own views on human rights and respect for religious diversity.”

• Narendra Modi
• Australian politics
• South and central Asia
• Anthony Albanese
• Australian foreign policy

Most viewed

The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

Pm modi to attend 2023 quad summit in sydney on may 24.

This will be the third in-person Quad Leaders' Summit and the first time Australia will be hosting the meeting. The announcement was made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday. The first two Quad meetings were held in the US and Japan.

Lok Sabha Elections #Elections With

• Uttar Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• West Bengal
• Andhra Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Other States

Bihar Lok Sabha Elections: It's Nishad against Nishad in battle of turncoats in Muzaffarpur

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Nail art & society events, marathons help Jalgaon voter turnout race past 53%

Delhi Lok Sabha Elections 2024: It's interesting, i'll vote for AAP, Kejriwal for Congress, says Rahul Gandhi

Singapore envoy Simon Wong witnesses PM Modi's public meeting in North East Delhi, calls it 'electrifying'

More News >>

Read More News on

Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.

RIP Jim Simons: He solved the markets, beat the street regularly, and this is how he did it.

Bumpy ride again: Tata Motors is facing rough JLR terrain

What's troubling Cognizant, Wipro turn around? And they aren't the only ones struggling.

Why SIPs of a hot market can’t save you enough for retirement

Fake invoices, ghost entries: Once a ‘manpasand’ stock, how a juice maker lands in Sebi net

Why PE biggies want to furiously snack on Haldiram’s

Find this comment offensive?

Choose your reason below and click on the Report button. This will alert our moderators to take action

Reason for reporting:

Your Reason has been Reported to the admin.

To post this comment you must

Log In/Connect with:

Fill in your details:

Will be displayed

Will not be displayed

Share this Comment:

Uh-oh this is an exclusive story available for selected readers only..

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Login using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

To read full story, subscribe to ET Prime

₹34 per week

Billed annually at ₹2499 ₹1749

Super Saver Sale - Flat 30% Off

On ET Prime Membership

Unlock this story and enjoy all members-only benefits.

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

6th Anniversary Offer

Get flat 20% off on ETPrime

90 Days Prime access worth Rs999 unlocked for you

Exclusive Economic Times Stories, Editorials & Expert opinion across 20+ sectors

Stock analysis. Market Research. Industry Trends on 4000+ Stocks

​Get 1 Year Complimentary Subscription of TOI+ worth Rs.799/-​

Stories you might be interested in

PM Modi to attend 2023 Quad Leaders' Summit in Sydney on May 24

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi will be attending the third in-person Quad Leaders’ summit, which is this time being hosted by Australia as its first on May 24 in Sydney. 

PM's upcoming visit to Sydney in Australia on May 23 is likely to be held as one of the mega cultural extravaganzas with Indian Diasporas hosting mega reception.  

The Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation- which acts as a non-profit organisation promoting and celebrating diverse Indian culture in Australia is providing a platform for such reception -cum -cultural extravaganza.

PM Modi will be meeting with leaders of Japan, France, Australia and the US and other countries supposedly discussing the ways of stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Prior to Australia's visit, PM Modi is also likely to visit Japan on May 20-21 as an invitation to attend the G-7 summit in Hiroshima. Sharing details, Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale, the in-charge of BJP’s foreign affairs department, said on Thursday that the Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation will be hosting a grand community reception in honour of PM Modi.

He said that the event aims to provide the large and growing Indian Diaspora of Australia with an opportunity to listen in to the PM, who would be addressing them also.

Quoting details from the Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation, Dr Chauthaiwale said that more than 300 organisations from various social, cultural, linguistic, business, professional and religious backgrounds have registered to become the ‘welcome partners” for the reception.

“So far, more than 20,000 members of the Diaspora have already registered to be part of this upcoming reception. Before the arrival of dignitaries, there will be a cultural extravaganza with colourful performances of singing, music, and various dance form to showcase the diverse and rich culture of India”, said the Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation in a statement on Thursday here also to the media.

To date, the hosting unit has received over 100 proposals for cultural performances before PM Modi in Sydney. According to a report, Indians make up around 3% of the Australian population.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics- 2021, the total Indian-born population in Australia is more than 6, 73,352 and the number of people with Indian ancestry stands at 783,958.

Sydney alone, where the PM is scheduled to get a major reception from Indian diasporas, has a population of 2, 30,000 Indians, apart from Melbourne which has a 242,635 Indian population, as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021.

Among Indian diasporas, Punjabi-speaking people are around 2, 39,033, followed by 197,132 Hindi -speaking, 111,873 Urdu-speaking, 95,404 Tamil, 81,334 Gujarati, 78,738 Malayalam, 70,116 Bengali-speaking people besides others

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp  

Download the TNIE app to stay with us and follow the latest

Related Stories

• You Are At:

India-Australia ties based on mutual trust and respect: PM Modi in Sydney mega event

Pm modi in australia: during his visit, pm modi will hold a bilateral meeting with his australian counterpart anthony albanese..

PM Modi in Australia

India will open consulate in brisbane, says pm modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that India will open a consulate in Brisbane to fulfil the long-pending demand by the diaspora. Modi made the announcement while addressing a packed Qudos Bank Arena here. The event was also attended by his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. India currently has three consulates in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Brisbane currently has an Honorary Consulate of India.

PM Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese share a hug

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese share a hug as he concludes his address to the Indian diaspora in Sydney.

'Our lifestyles may be different but now Yoga also connects us'

In Sydney, Australia PM Narendra Modi says, "Our lifestyles may be different but now Yoga also connects us. We have been connected due to cricket for long. But now tennis and films are also connecting us. We might prepare food in different manners but Masterchef is connecting us now."

PM's address: 'When I came here in 2014, I made a promise to you...'

In the same year, I had the opportunity to welcome Prime Minister @AlboMPji on Indian soil in Ahmedabad. Today he has supported me in unveiling the foundation stone of 'Little India' here: PM 

At the community event in Sydney, Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "When I came here in 2014, I made a promise to you that you will not have to wait for 28 years for an Indian Prime Minister. So, here I am in Sydney once again."

PM Modi addresses Indian diaspora at Qudos Bank Arena

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the Indian diaspora at the community event in Sydney. According to reports, at least 20,000 people of the Indian-origin are present at Qudos Bank Arena to listen to the charismatic leader. 

'PM Modi is the boss...': Australian Prime Minister at community event in Sydney

Addressing the community event in Sydney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese termed PM Modi as "Boss." "The last time I saw someone on this stage was Bruce Springsteen and he did not get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got. Prime Minister Modi is the boss," Albanese added. 

PM Modi arrives at Qudos Bank Arena amid rousing welcome

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney amid a rousing welcome. PM Modi will address the Indian diaspora here.

PM Modi receives 'traditional welcome' at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a 'traditional welcome' at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was also with him. Meanwhile, PM Modi will address the members of the Indian diaspora at a community event today. 

PM Modi arrives at Qudos Bank Arena to address members of Indian diaspora

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney where he will address the members of the Indian diaspora at a community event shortly. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also with him.

Cultural program underway at Qudos Bank Arena ahed of PM Modi's visit

The Cultural program is underway at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive shortly for a community event.

'All of us are excited for PM Modi to arrive,' says a member of Indian diaspora

Members of the Indian diaspora expressed their excitement for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's community event that will be held at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Shashi Prabha said, "All of us are excited for PM Modi to arrive. That is the most important thing for us at the moment."

PM Modi's community event to be held shortly

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's community event to be held shortly at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. 

Visuals from the venue: 

'pm modi is certainly one of the most visible leaders,' says nobel laureate brian paul schmidt.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is certainly one of the most visible leaders that India has had in a lifetime according to Nobel laureate Brian Paul Schmidt after a meeting with the Indian leader in the Australian city of Sydney. "Prime Minister Modi is certainly one of the most visible leaders that India has had in my lifetime, and just talking to him, I can see why. He's very personable and really takes an interest in people when he talks to them. And I think that's probably true of whoever he talks to, whether it's the President of the United States or someone that he meets for the first time from society," Schmidt said.

91-year-old among diaspora who arrive in Sydney on 'Modi Airways' to greet PM

Prime Minister Modi received a grand welcome when he landed in Sunday to commence his three-day visit to Australia. Among those who had gathered to greet PM Modi included 91-year-old Dr Navamani Chandra Bose who journeyed from Melbourne to meet the Indian prime minister in Sydney. She was full of energy and passion and very happy to travel by "Modi Airways." "Very happy today and it's going to be a great event," said the nonagenarian who arrived by the 'Modi Airways,' a special charted flight that took off from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.

PM Modi set to attend special community event in Sydney

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese will attend a special community event here to celebrate the country's dynamic, diverse Indian diaspora. He will address the community members at the event at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. The event's organisers, the Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation (IADF), are expecting a large turnout.

'It's an incredible honour...': Australian singer Guy Sebastian meets PM Modi

Australian singer Guy Sebastian met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sydney today. He also sang a few lines from his song 'Standing With You'. "It is an incredible honour to meet his excellency. We talked about a whole bunch of things. He was so warm and kind and listened to everything with such respect. We talked about music and he showed me a song which has gone viral, called 'Naatu Naatu'. So, it's something that I am going to go and learn. We talked about my mother who is from Kanpur...", Sebastian added. 

‘Welcome Modi’ spelt by recreational aircraft’s contrails in Sydney

Before the community event in Sydney today, ‘Welcome Modi’ was spelt by a recreational aircraft’s contrails in the city. Last year, on December 29, India and Australia implemented an economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA). Notably, India-Australia bilateral trade exceeded USD 31 billion last financial year.

PM Modi meets Executive Chairman of Fortescue Future Industries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Dr Andrew Forrest, Executive Chairman of Fortescue Future Industries, in Sydney. After the meeting, Forrest said, "Fossil fuel sector has only limited time to run and it must be replaced with a fuel which causes no harm and can do everything which coal, oil and gas can do. That is something that PM is clearly a global champion on and I found the PM to be the global govt partner of the global industry partner to promote green hydrogen across the world." 

PM Modi interacts with Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting in Sydney

PM Narendra Modi interacted with Gina Rinehart, Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, in Sydney today. During the visit, the Prime Ministers will attend a community event in Sydney to celebrate Australia's dynamic and diverse Indian diaspora. 

PM Modi meets CEO of Australian Super in Sydney

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Paul Schroder, CEO of  Australian Super, in Sydney. Calling his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese a "dear friend," PM Modi said that the bilateral relationship between New Delhi and Canberra was being nourished by the fast-growing Indian diaspora residing there. Pitching India among the top investment destinations in the world, the PM invited AustralianSuper to partner in India’s growth story, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said. 

'High degree of mutual trust, naturally translated into greater cooperation...': PM Modi on India-Australia ties

Describing the relationship between India and Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the high degree of mutual trust between the two nations has naturally translated into greater cooperation over time, especially on defence and security matters. In an exclusive interview with 'The Australian' newspaper, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he wants to elevate relations with Australia to the "next level," which would entail deeper defence ties to support the creation of an "open and free" Indo-Pacific.

Read all the Breaking News Live on indiatvnews.com and Get Latest English News & Updates from World

• PM Modi In Australia
• Anthony Albanese
• india-australia relations

AAP protest LIVE updates: Kejriwal-led march towards BJP HQ ends, leaders return to party office

Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar: Bollywood celebs urge fans to vote in Lok Sabha polls | WATCH

Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy claim Thailand Open men's doubles title

Related World News

'Crime Minister': Massive protests erupt seeking Netanyahu' resignation. Will Israel govt collapse?

Saudi Arabia: Health concerns grow as King Salman undergoes medical exams after he suffers fever

Pakistan wants to resume trade with India? Foreign Minister says it is up to New Delhi to restart

Family members of THIS country unable to perform last rites as funeral costs jump to Rs 30 lakh

Pakistan: 13 members of a family killed as truck plunges into ravine in Punjab province

Latest News

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Modi addresses poll rally in West Bengal's Purulia

Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leaders protest outside BJP headquarters in Delhi Amid Swati Maliwal Row

Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leaders hold protest in Delhi: Security beefed up outside BJP headquarters

• Aap Ki Adalat
• Aaj Ki Baat
• Kurukshetra
• Haqiqat Kya Hai
• Entertainment

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan defends her Cannes black and golden look | 19 May | Entertainment Wrap

RCB defeat CSK to qualify for IPL 2024 playoffs | 19 May | Sports Wrap

Aaj Ka Rashifal: Know from Acharya Indu Prakash ji what your stars are saying today

• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• West Bengal
• Jammu & Kashmir
• Chhattisgarh

'Companies will think 50 times before investing in Congress-ruled states': PM Modi in Jharkhand

Andhra Pradesh: Man kills pregnant stray dog in Guntur, stabs her multiple times

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Whole election is between 'Ram Bhakt' and 'Ram Drohi', says CM Yogi

Heatwave: IMD issues red alert across North India, Kanpur and Barmer sizzle at 46.9 degrees

• Constituencies
• Key Candidates

IPL Rising Star: Yash Dayal, RCB's go-to option at death

RCB become first team ever to register historic T20 milestone

Faf du Plessis dedicates Player of the Match award to RCB's new-found death over specialist

Jitesh Sharma captain, only 2 overseas players: PBKS' predicted playing XI for IPL 2024 clash vs SRH

SRH vs PBKS, Hyderabad weather report: Will rain ruin Sunrisers' aim of qualifying in top two?

• Celebrities

Anushka Sharma, Smriti Mandhana's pic together during RCB vs CSK match gets internet's attention

Kiara Advani exudes diva vibes in pink-black corset gown at Cannes Film Festival | See pics

Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi take bike ride after wrapping Rajasthan schedule of Jolly LLB 3 | WATCH

Anushka Sharma gets emotional as RCB defeats CSK to qualify for Playoffs | See pics

• Live Scores
• Other Sports

India TV Sports Wrap on May 19: Today's top 10 trending news stories

Elon Musk arrives in Indonesia's Bali to launch Starlink internet service

OpenAI never clawed back any employee's vested equity - CEO Altman

Rs 2,999 Airtel, Jio, Vi prepaid plans compared: Here's who offers better benefits

X completely sheds its Twitter name: Here's how platform changed since beginning of rebranding

How to recover deleted WhatsApp chats? An easy guide

What does Vladimir Putin's visit to China mean for both US and India? Know here

India signs 10-year-deal with Iran to manage Chabahar Port: What is its significance?

What if advanced AI goes into wrong hands? Potential risks and researchers' concerns explained

Explained: How 8 teams will benefit from Mumbai Indians' win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024

Feroze Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi: Rae Bareli's tryst with Gandhi family in Lok Sabha polls | Explained

Weekly Horoscope (May 20-May 26): Financial condition will improve for Virgos; know about your sign

Horoscope Today, May 19: Happiness in married life for Capricorns; know about other zodiac signs

Horoscope Today, May 17: Happiness in married life for Virgos; know about other zodiac signs

Horoscope Today, May 16: Hard work will prove fruitful for Virgos; know about other zodiac signs

Horoscope Today, May 15: New opportunities for Cancerians; know about other zodiac signs

Raghunandan Kamath, founder of Naturals ice cream, dies at 75 in Mumbai

Lava's former MD booked for sending imposter to AIIMS to get heart test for bail extension

NSE, BSE conducts special trading session to test preparedness for disruptions

Hinduja family emerges as UK's richest for third year in a row: Top 20 rich families in Britain

Sensex gains 253 points, Nifty climbs 62 points amid market rally

Climate change likely to impact people with brain conditions: Study

Superfood Acerola: Know THESE 5 benefits of Barbados Cherry

Infertility treatment doubles postpartum heart disease risk: Study

Superfood Celeriac: Know THESE 5 benefits of Knob Celery

World Hypertension Day 2024: 7 subtle signs of high blood pressure you must be aware of

• SYDNEY, NSW
• MELBOURNE, VIC
• HOBART, TAS
• BRISBANE, QLD
• ADELAIDE, SA
• CANBERRA, ACT

Australia to host 2023 Quad leaders' summit in Sydney this May

• Anthony Albanese

Send your stories to [email protected]

Auto news: The newest ute coming to Aussie shores.

Top Stories

Injured officer chased alleged attacker through Sydney CBD before arrest

Six years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married at Windsor Castle

Storm blitz puts the breaks on Eels

Stakeholders band together to make call on Leichhardt

PM Modi Addresses Indian Community In Sydney: Highlights

Pm modi addresses the community members at the event at sydney's qudos bank arena..

PM Modi attends a special community event in Sydney.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park with Vedic chanting and other traditional types of welcome as he arrived in the company of Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese to address Indian diaspora at a community event in the Australian city.

PM Modi is on a three-day visit to Australia. The Australia visit is on the last and final leg of PM Modi's three-nation tour. This is the PM Modi's second visit to the country after 2014.

In his introductory remarks, Anthony Albanese referred to the vast audience and compared PM Modi's popularity to that of legendary rockstar Bruce Springsteen, who is also known by fans as "The Boss".

Here are the highlights of PM Modi's address:

• Be it for associations like Solar Alliance, for building Disaster Resilient Infrastructure or for leading the Big Cat Alliance, India has always acted as a 'Binding Force' to connect different nations
• 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas' has been the basis of our Domestic Governance, and this forms the vision for the Global Governance as well.
• India is a living civilization of thousands of years. India is the mother of Democracy.
• We have molded ourselves according to the times, but have always stuck to our fundamentals
• We see the nation as a family and also consider the world as a family.
• When India decides the theme of its G-20 Presidency, it says- One Earth, One Family, One Future.
• When India sets big targets for solar energy to protect the environment, it says- One Sun, One World, One Grid.
• When India wishes the global community to be healthy, it says - One Earth, One Health.
• In the last 9 years, India has made great strides. We have opened around 500 million bank accounts for the poor people.
• Not only this, actually the whole eco-system of Public Delivery has been transformed in India.
• An amount worth over Rs. 28 lakh crore have been directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, since 2014.
• The JAM Trinity and DBT have brought a revolution in the country.
• The country which started the world's fastest vaccination program in the Corona Pandemic... that country is - INDIA.
• Today the country which is the fastest growing largest economy in the world is...INDIA.
• Today the country which is the number-1 smartphone data consumer in the world is- INDIA.
• India does not lack capability, India does not lack resources either.
• Today, the country which has the world's biggest and youngest talent factory is...INDIA.
• IMF considers India the Bright Spot of global economy.
• According to World Bank, if there's any country which is withstanding global headwinds, it's India.
• India has made record exports even in the most challenging times
• No matter what the geographical distances are there between India and Australia, Indian Ocean connects us
• No matter different lifestyles are there in both the countries, Yoga connects us
• Cricket is something which has kept us connected for ages...and now Tennis and movies form other connecting bridges.
• There was a time when 3Cs used to define relations between India and Australia, these three were Commonwealth, Cricket and Curry.
• After that, it was 3Ds.. Democracy, Diaspora and Dosti!
• When it became 3Es, it was all about Energy, Economy and Education.
• But the truth is that actual depth of the relation between India & Australia transcend these C, D, E...
• The strongest and biggest foundations of this relation actually are mutual trust and mutual respect; and the real reason behind this is Indian Diaspora
• I am glad that many people from the overseas Indian community in New South Wales are actively participating in public life, making a mark
• In the same year, I had the opportunity to welcome Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Indian soil in Ahmedabad.
• Today, he has supported me in unveiling the foundation stone of 'Little India' here. I express my gratitude to him very much.
• An absolute delight connecting with Indian diaspora at community programme in Sydney
• When I came here in 2014, I made a promise to you that you will not have to wait for 28 years for an Indian Prime Minister. So, here I am in Sydney once again.  PM Albanese is also with me here
• India-Australia relationship is based on mutual trust and mutual respect

• The last time I saw someone on this stage was Bruce Springsteen and he did not get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got. Prime Minister Modi is the boss.
• When I was in India in March, it was a trip full of unforgettable moments, celebrating Holi in Gujarat, laying a wreath for Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi
• Everywhere I went, I felt a deep connection between the people of Australia and India. \
• If you want to understand India, travel by train and bus

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrive at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney amid a rousing welcome. PM Modi will address the Indian diaspora here. pic.twitter.com/OnyrLbTs7K - ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney amid Vedic chanting and other traditional ways at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also PM Modi. pic.twitter.com/PelqElQcU5 - ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney in a traditional manner. PM Modi will address the members of the Indian diaspora at a community event shortly. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also with him. pic.twitter.com/fPvtZoBpep - ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney where he will address the members of the Indian diaspora at a community event shortly. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also with him. pic.twitter.com/m63GCxN6aF - ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

Immense enthusiasm in Sydney for the community programme, which begins soon... pic.twitter.com/K3193pYLEZ - PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 23, 2023

#WATCH | Australia | Cultural program underway at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive shortly for a community event. pic.twitter.com/nkcvIO3BYf - ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

#WATCH | Members of the Indian diaspora express their excitement for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's community event that will be held at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia shortly. Shashi Prabha says, "All of us are excited for PM Modi to arrive. That is the most important... pic.twitter.com/U5RO5zKD6w - ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi's community event to be held shortly at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Visuals from the venue. pic.twitter.com/Glg0T0eE8q - ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome when he landed in Sydney to commence his three-day visit to Australia. Among those who had gathered to greet PM Modi included 91-year-old Dr Navamani Chandra Bose who journeyed from Melbourne to meet the Indian prime minister in Sydney, according to The Australia Today. Read more

#WATCH | 'Welcome Modi' spelt by a recreational aircraft's contrails before the community event in Sydney, Australia. pic.twitter.com/d5KhGm6Nm8 - ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

About 170 Indian-origin people took a chartered flight from Melbourne to Sydney to attend an event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Read more

Track Budget 2023 and get Latest News Live on NDTV.com.

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world .

India Elections | Read Latest News on Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live on NDTV.com . Get Election Schedule , information on candidates, in-depth ground reports and more - #ElectionsWithNDTV

Watch Live News:

Harris Park businesses renew bid to rename precinct Little India ahead of likely Narendra Modi visit

Businesses in Harris Park in Western Sydney are making a renewed bid to officially declare their area Little India ahead of an expected visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Key points:

• Parramatta Council has backed a proposal to officially name three streets in Harris Park 'Little India'
• Anticipation is building about a potential visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• The Geographic Names Board has previously warned using the term Little India "creates confusion"

The push to formally declare the suburb as Little India has stalled since the Geographic Names Board told Parramatta Council to stop using the term in marketing material because it "creates confusion". 

The bureaucratic barrier has not stopped many Sydneysiders and locals referring to the cluster of Indian restaurants, sari and jewellery shops, and grocers as Little India, but many believe making it official would boost the area's appeal to tourists.

Parramatta Council last week voted to support a scaled-back proposal to apply the name to part of the suburb covering the busy Wigram, Marion, and Station streets.

"It puts us on the map," said Parramatta councillor Paul Noack, who moved the motion.

"We want to make it an international destination on the same lines as Little India in Singapore and other places around the world."

Rather than the original proposal to rename the entire suburb of Harris Park, the name would apply only to the popular trading area.

Cr Noack said the impending arrival of Mr Modi in Australia next month added urgency to the matter, as well as the federal government's commitment to spend $3.5 million on upgrading the area.

The funding allocated in the October budget has been earmarked for a Little India gate, as well as new street furniture, lighting and car parking improvements. 

Sense of belonging

Little India Harris Park Business Association president Sanjay Deshwal said they had first proposed officially naming the area Little India in 2015.

He said since then, the number of Indian businesses had doubled from about 30 to about 60.

While it was initially dismissed as "ridiculous" he is confident the time is right to make the name change.

"A good idea cannot be stopped when the time has come, this is a prime example of this," Mr Deshwal said.

He stressed the current proposal would not replace the suburb name Harris Park, but would designate the three main streets as a cultural precinct, like Little Italy in Leichhardt.

Harris Park, named after the surgeon Dr John Harris, is a small suburb next to Parramatta which has seen waves of migration from Lebanon, Italy, Greece, and China.

In the last 10 to 15 years it has become the go-to spot for Indian migrants.

The 2021 census shows 45 per cent of the 5,043 Harris Park residents were born in India.

Mr Deshwal said the area was crucial to helping students and workers settle into their new home country.

"Harris Park is a very important step to provide those people a feeling of home," he said.

"It's not only food, it's not only the businesses, it's not only the dresses, it's not only the colour, but it's giving them a sense of belonging."

Anticipation is building ahead of a potential visit from the Indian prime minister next month which would cement Harris Park's reputation as Little India in the world's eyes.

While details of Mr Modi's Sydney itinerary are yet to be finalised, Mr Deshwal hopes Mr Modi can use his visit to lay the foundation stone for the welcome gate which will be "a monument to acknowledge the Indian diaspora for the first time in Australia".

When Mr Modi was last in Australia in 2014 he gave a speech in front of 20,000 fans at the Sydney SuperDome at Olympic Park.

Parramatta Council has formally extended an invitation to Mr Modi to visit Harris Park this time.

"This will be one of the biggest events in Harris Park, the biggest event in Parramatta, probably the biggest in Western Sydney," Cr Noack said.

The federal member for Parramatta, Andrew Charlton, said the planned upgrades would help turn the area into "a beacon of South Asian culture around the world", regardless of the bureaucratic naming process.  

"Prime Minister Modi's visits get watched by millions of people back in India and around the world, that would certainly be a huge boost," Mr Charlton said. 

He said previous efforts to rename Harris Park had become "bogged down", but focusing on the trading area where Indian businesses were concentrated was a much simpler approach. 

Parramatta Council said it is continuing discussions with the Geographic Names Board. 

A board spokesperson said it was yet to receive a formal application to assign the name Little India. 

"Once a formal application has been received, the GNB will review the submission," the spokesperson said.

• X (formerly Twitter)

Related Stories

Narendra modi's chariot ride with anthony albanese a clear display of cricket diplomacy.

Australia and India's relationship has 'rocketed ahead'. But one point of tension remains

A Sydney developer is selling apartments 'in the heart of Parramatta'. They're actually in a different suburb

• Foreign Affairs
• Harris Park
• Local Government
• Small Business