“Real power is…”: Modi extols diaspora at Sydney event
Ravi Bajpai
A sense of pride permeated a heaving Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney as Narendra Modi addressed members from the Indian diaspora during his trip to Australia this week.
“The real reason, the real power is – all of you Indians who live in Australia,” the Indian prime minister said at a community reception on May 23, 2023.
Modi extolled the Indian diaspora that had converged in Sydney in the thousands from across Australia and New Zealand to watch him speak live.
“Mutual trust and mutual respect have not developed only due to the diplomatic relations of India-Australia. The real reason, the real power is – all of you Indians who live in Australia,” he said, drawing a loud cheer from his audience.
The event was more of a concert than a community programme, with Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese exuding camaraderie as people waved the Indian flag and chanted slogans.
A group of Kiwi-Indians reached Sydney the day of the event to welcome the prime minister. Bhav Dhillon, Hon Consul of India in Auckland, told The Indian Weekender the event delivered a heady dose of pride and nationalism.
“Seeing the Australian leader acknowledge our prime minister’s leadership and global appeal is a great feeling. Such kind of an event makes members of the Indian diaspora proud, and raises their stature in a foreign land,” he said.
The event was organised by Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation and featured song and dance performances for hours in the run-up to Modi’s speech.
Garry Gupta, a community leader in New Zealand who attended the event, said the programme was testimony to Modi’s organic appeal.
“It’s not easy to pull such a crowd to see and hear you speak. I travelled all the way from Auckland. Having now heard the prime minister speak live for the first time, I can say no one talks about India like Modi,” he said.
The audience hung on each word as the prime minister spoke at the event. Hardik Desai, a community volunteer in Auckland who also attended the reception, described the event as “a once-in-a-lifetime experience”.
“The environment was positive and there was a lot of ‘josh’. PM Modi has done exemplary work in the nine years he has been the country’s leader. The Indian diaspora that turned up at the event revelled in that pride,” he said.
In his remarks, Anthony Albanese referred to the warm welcome for Modi from the diaspora and people in Australia.
“The last time I saw Bruce Springsteen on this stage, he didn’t get the kind of reception that Prime Minister Modi got. PM Modi is the boss,” he said.
Modi was on a three-day visit to Australia, where he had bilateral talks with Albanese among several other meetings and events.