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BIG STORY JUNE 02, 2023 | The Indian Eye 5

grand community event in Sydney in Eurasia.
for the Indian diaspora. Albanese It is the world’s largest regional
compared PM Modi’s mass appeal body in terms of geographic scope
with that of the famed rockstar Bruce and population. The SCO largely fo-
Springsteen, who incidentally is cuses on regional security issues and
famed among his fans as “The Boss”. the fight against regional terrorism,
Witnessing the rousing welcome that ethnic separatism and religious ex-
PM Modi got from the crowd at the tremism.
Sydney stadium who chanted “Bharat But Modi has also faced criti-
Mata ki Jai”, “Vande Mataram” and cism – at home and abroad. During
“Modi, Modi,” Albanese said that his his Australia tour he came under crit-
popularity is more than American icism from some local politicians who
singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. questioned his record on democracy.
“The last time I saw someone But Australian leader of the Opposi-
on this stage was Bruce Springsteen tion Peter Dutton said on Thursday
and he did not get the welcome that that the politicians of Australia are
Prime Minister Modi has got. Prime jealous of Narendra Modi. He said
Minister Modi is The Boss,” said Al- that they are jealous because none of
banese. them is able to gather 20,000 people
The Australian PM recalled his and make them chant their surnames.
India visit earlier this year and how Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese meet the Indian diaspora at a community While addressing the Parlia-
he backpacked to India in 1991, say- event in Sydney (ANI) ment, LoP Dutton said that an ex-
ing, “If you want to understand In- traordinary event happened on
dia..travel by train and bus.” and objectives, Japan, Australia and India has seized the leadership Wednesday. “There were lots of peo-
“When I was in India in March, Papua New Guinea have invited position in upholding the princi- ple in attendance from both sides of
it was a trip full of unforgettable mo- Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ple of international cooperation to politics, but I said to the Prime Minis-
ments, celebrating Holi in Gujarat, The G7 summit has acknowl- ensure global peace, security and ter this morning that every politician
laying a wreath for Mahatma Gandhi edged India’s growing dominance sustainability. India is currently the there last night was jealous of the fact
in Delhi... Everywhere I went, I felt a on the global stage and has sent her president of the SCO and the G20, that he was able to get 20,000 people
deep connection between the people an invitation to every single summit two groups which experts believe can chanting his surname in unison on
of Australia and India. If you want to since 2019. The Quad, as a security contribute significantly to global sta- the other side of the world, mainly
understand India, travel by train and grouping, loses its significance with- bility and security. at Labour Party functions,” he said
bus,” said Albanese. out India. And India’s outreach to While economies throughout the while speaking at the Parliament.
He further stated that it was his island nations has been rewarded as world are still recovering from Covid “I thought it was an extraordi-
great pleasure to welcome Prime she has set to chair the Indo-Pacific fallouts, the Russia-Ukraine war has nary event and I really acknowledge
Minister Modi to Australia. “My Cooperation Summit in May 2023. also added to economic and security the work of the Indian community
first year as Prime Minister is what India has emerged as a major challenges, which India and her allies in hosting Prime Minister Modi,” he
I am celebrating today. I have met force in global diplomacy, and a are handling conscientiously. added.
my friend PM six times but there is leader in multilateralism. Apart from India recently hosted foreign He said that he joined with
nothing better than standing on stage her successful engagements with her ministers of the Shanghai Coopera- the (Australian) Prime Minister in
with him like this, it is a pleasure to close allies and neighbors, India is tion Organization nations in Goa to thanking Prime Minister Modi and
welcome PM Modi here. But I must leading several prominent region- discuss regional security matters, in- his delegation for visiting Australia
say that the warmth and energy that al and global groupings, such as the cluding adding Iran and Belarus to a for paying honor to the relationship.
is here tonight is second to none,” G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation union of nations, which are seen as a Speaking on the relationship with
said Albanese. Organization (SCO). counterweight to Western influence India, he said that it was “quite ex-
Modi had arrived in Sydney on traordinary and productive” when
Monday as part of the third and final his government was in power.
leg of his three-nation visit after con- He also acknowledged the work
cluding his visit to Papua New Guin- of former Prime Minister Morrison
ea. Earlier, Modi was in Japan as and many on the front bench, includ-
part of his power-packed schedule to ing Dan Teen, who was intimately
visit a number of countries and hold involved in trade negotiations and
meetings with major global players. created the opportunities which, to
The G7, one of the most influen- governance credit, they’ve continued
tial groupings in the world has con- in relation to a number of these an-
sistently accorded India the respect nouncements.
she deserves. Others too have fallen “I’d been meeting with Prime
in line to acknowledge its growing Minister Modi in Sydney this morn-
diplomatic and economic heft. The ing (Thursday). It was a very cordial
world’s newfound admiration for and engaging discussion and the
India stems from her ascent to dip- wide-ranging topics that we traversed
lomatic and economic dominance. gave an indication of the bipartisan
It has become evidently clear of late support in the relationship,” he added.
that it is neither feasible nor realistic Criticism or praise, it is difficult
to seek meaningful progress in geo- to deny that Modi has taken Indi-
politics without the largest country in Modi with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Senator Penny an diplomacy to a new level as the
the world, India’s engagement. Wong and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the Indian community event in Sydney (ANI) country emerges as a major player in
With diverse political settings world affairs.

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