PM Modi hugs Australian counterpart Albanese at Indian diaspora event in Melbourne — watch video | Today’s news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese shared a warm hug at a community event in Melbourne on Thursday attended by members of the Indian diaspora. The two leaders also greeted each other with a handshake.
PM Modi said India-Australia relations have reached new heights and credited the Indian diaspora for playing a significant role in strengthening bilateral relations, reports ANI.
Speaking at the ‘Melbourne Meets Modi’ event, PM Modi noted that this was his third visit to Australia in the last 12 years and praised the Indian community for helping deepen the partnership between the two countries. He also mentioned the members of the Indian diaspora who are closely connected to their roots in their daily lives and at the same time contribute significantly to the growth and development of Australia.
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PM Modi emphasized that the Indian diaspora plays a key role in strengthening India-Australia relations, acknowledging their contribution to Australia’s development while maintaining strong ties with their homeland.
During his speech, PM Modi praised the Indian community for enriching the culture of Melbourne and expressed gratitude for their efforts in promoting a strong partnership between India and Australia.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit concluded with 18 major deliverables across sectors such as defence, maritime security and education aimed at further strengthening India-Australia’s comprehensive strategic partnership.
The ‘Melbourne Meets Modi’ event is significant as it attracted around 30,000 attendees, making it one of the largest gatherings addressed by a leader in Australia and showcasing the vibrant connection between the Indian diaspora and their homeland.
PM Modi described the lives of the Indian diaspora in Australia as a melting pot of cultures, noting that while they use Australian ingredients, their daily lives are infused with traditional Indian values and practices.
“When I visited Australia in 2014, it was the first time in 28 years that an Indian Prime Minister had visited. And you may remember how I said then that you won’t have to wait another 28 years. This is my third visit in the last 12 years – a hat-trick of visits. It shows how great the relationship between India and Australia has reached. And you know who played the biggest role in all of this?
What did PM Modi say about the Indian diaspora?
Speaking about the Indian diaspora’s strong bond with their homeland, Prime Minister Modi said many Indian families in Australia smoothly balance life in two time zones, with children following Australian schedules while staying connected to relatives in India through regular video calls and virtual attendance at family events.
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He said despite maintaining close ties with India, the diaspora was making significant contributions to Australia’s development. Praising the community, PM Modi noted that Indians integrate into societies like “sugar that dissolves in milk”, enriching them while spreading the values of love and harmony.
He also said that while many components of daily life may be Australian, the cultural essence remains distinctly Indian, symbolized by Indian-style tea and traditional spices.
PM Modi said Melbourne is often described as a city where people can experience all four seasons in a single day, adding that the Indian community has further enriched the city with its vibrant culture and traditions.
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“Here in Melbourne and surrounding areas, there are many places and markets imbued with the spirit of Indianness. Some call them ‘Little India’ while others call them ‘Mini India’; whatever they are called, they are steeped in Indian culture. Someone showed me a video of one such market,” he said.
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“It was mentioned in the video that sales are going on there all the time. People get completely swept up in the excitement of these sales; even if one is not in the mood to buy, they end up buying something. ‘Sale ke chakkar mein log ghanchakkar ban jate hain’,” PM Modi added.
CSP extension
Meanwhile, ahead of the community event, PM Modi concluded high-level talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Melbourne, leading to a significant expansion of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
Prime Minister Modi’s visit, which runs from July 8 to July 10, concluded with 18 key outcomes across sectors including defence, maritime security, energy, critical technology, education, mining, research and cultural cooperation, further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
