Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who won accolades during his ongoing three-nation tour, reiterated on Tuesday the IMF’s recent observation that the Indian economy is a “bright spot” while his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese likened him with rockstar Bruce Springsteen, adding PM Modi is “The Boss.”
Addressing a massive gathering of the Indian Diaspora at Sydney Stadium, Albanese, in introductory remarks, 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”.
“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,” said the Australian PM, drawing a grin from PM Modi and applause from the tens of thousands gathered at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, the media reported.
When the two PMs arrived at the venue, Modi was given a traditional welcome. The event began with a cultural performance by Indian dancers.
About his bilateral meeting with PM Modi scheduled after the event, Albanese said: “It will be our sixth meeting that we’ve had together since I was sworn in as Prime Minister one year ago today. It shows how important the relationship between Australia and India is. India will grow to be the third-largest economy in the world. It’s already the most populated country in the world. And it’s an important neighbor in the Indian Ocean, that we share. And that is why this is a relationship that we need to invest in,” he said.
Australia is a better place because of the contribution of the Indian diaspora, Albanese said.
“India is a key strategic partner. We have a rich friendship, we have a very affectionate sporting rivalry, of course, on the cricket fields of the world and we will of course contest the championship once again, later, very shortly, both part of a growing and dynamic region and Prime Minister Modi is a very welcome visitor to our shores,” he remarked.
Responding to a rousing reception and a huge crowd’s cheering, PM Modi cited the recent IMF observation that the Indian economy is a “bright spot” for the global economy. The relationship between India-Australia is based on mutual trust and respect, he said and thanked his Australian counterpart for supporting him in unveiling the foundation stone of ‘Little India’, a suburb of Sydney.
PM Modi embarked on his second visit to Australia to boost bilateral defense and security ties between the two nations. His visit comes amid China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Earlier, he met top business leaders of Australian companies and called for boosting cooperation with the Indian industry in various areas of development such as technology, skilling, and clean energy.
Australia has about eight lakh people of Indian origin.
So enthusiastic was this Indian community for the Modi visit that hundreds of them hired aircraft to temporarily convert these into “Modi Airways” as they flooded Sydney from all corners of Australia to participate in the massive event.
“Welcome Modi”, was how an aircraft ‘wrote’ on the skies.