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PM Modi in Australia Highlights : Narendra Modi says India-Australia ties in T-20 mode now, extends invite for cricket World Cup

Pm modi in australia highlights prime minister narendra modi met with his australian counterpart anthony albanese today, and discussed a host of issues..

PM Modi in Australia Highlights, May 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today used a cricket analogy to describe the fast-expanding India-Australia ties, saying the relations have entered the “T-20 mode”. He was speaking after meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, in which they discussed a host of issues, including the vandalism of Indian temples.

PM Albanese said in a statement today that PM Modi’s visit to Australia has “strengthened the close and strong relationship that Australia enjoys with India.” Yesterday, the two leaders attended a mega community event at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park . Speaking at the event, PM Narendra Modi announced that India will open a new consulate in Brisbane soon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sydney on Monday as a part of the third and final leg of his three-nation visit after concluding his visits to Papua New Guinea and Japan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese; says "the basis of India-Australia ties is mutual trust and mutual respect." Follow highlights below.

Sydney's famous Opera House and Harbour were lit up in the colours of the Indian flag as a part of PM Modi's Australia visit, reports the news agency  ANI .

Australia | The Sydney Harbour and Opera House light up in the colours of India's national flag ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit there. #PMModiInAustralia pic.twitter.com/okv5QScGBy — ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2023

The US Department of State Director, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Affairs, Taylor Ruggles today welcomed India's growing engagement with Papua New Guinea.

Ruggles said, "We welcome India's engagement in the region. Broadly speaking. India is not a member of the Partners in Blue Pacific (PBP), but it is an observer. So, part of the way that we have worked with other like-minded countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, and now, Canada Germany, as well, have defined ways that we can leverage our combined efforts to respond to Pacific Island needs."  (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today used a cricket analogy to describe the fast-expanding India-Australia ties, saying the relations have entered the "T-20 mode".

Australia and India are working more closely together to boost renewable energy in both our countries. pic.twitter.com/Yy1FUCXt7X — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 24, 2023

"I came here within two months of my friend Prime Minister Albanese's visit to India. This is our sixth meeting in the last one year. This reflects the depth of our wide-ranging ties, the convergence of our views and the maturity of our cooperation," Modi said.

"If I may say in the language of cricket, then our relations have come in T-20 mode," he added. Albanese visited India in March to attend the annual India-Australia summit.

"I am inviting Prime Minister Albanese and all Australian cricket fans to come to India for the Cricket World Cup this year. At that time, along with cricket, you will also get to see the glitter and pomp of Diwali," Modi said. "The perspective of India-Australia relations is not limited to only our two countries. It is also associated with regional stability, peace and global welfare," Modi said in his media statement.  (PTI)

Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "great friend" of Australia, the country's Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton today said he was proud that the relations between the two countries were growing at a faster pace.

????| A relationship enjoying support across political spectrum. PM @narendramodi had a productive meeting with Leader of Opposition @PeterDutton_MP in Sydney. PM Modi conveyed his appreciation for the strong bipartisan support that our partnership enjoys. Also discussed… pic.twitter.com/CNqzGrwpL1 — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 24, 2023

Modi met Dutton in Sydney during the third and final leg of his three-nation tour and called the meeting between the two of them "productive".

Prime Minister Modi thanked Dutton for the strong bipartisan support for the bilateral relations in Australia. The two leaders discussed various aspects of the bilateral ties as well as regional developments.  (PTI)

PM Modi today took to Twitter to share a video rewind of his Australia trip, terming the relationship between the two countries as a "special one".

The India-Australia friendship is a special one! pic.twitter.com/1w38JLHzef — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2023

Australian PM Anthony Albanese said in a statement today that PM Modi's visit to Australia has "strengthened the close and strong relationship that Australia enjoys with India."

“Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Australia has strengthened the close and strong relationship that Australia enjoys with India...This is a relationship we need to invest in. Our strong partnership with India will deliver benefits for Australia in trade, investment and business,… pic.twitter.com/dKbbbgtDhw — ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today raised with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese India’s concerns over the recent incidents of attacks on temples in Australia and activities of pro-Khalistani elements in that country.

“Prime Minister Albanese and I have in the past discussed the issue of attacks on temples in Australia and activities of separatist elements. We discussed the matter today as well,” Modi said. “It is not acceptable to us that anyone hurt the friendly and cordial ties between India and Australia by their actions or ideology,” he said.

Modi thanked Albanese for taking action against those involved in such incidents. “Prime Minister Albanese assured me once again today that he will take strict actions against such elements in the future also,” Modi said.  ( Read more )

On May 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a grand community programme for the Indian diaspora in Sydney. While PM Modi hailed the India-Australia ties as embodying “mutual trust and mutual respect”, his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese called Modi “the boss.”

PM Modi announced that a new Indian consulate would soon open in Brisbane. The two Prime Ministers also laid the foundation stone for the ‘Little India’ gateway to be built in Harris Park, Sydney.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today announced the opening of the new Australian Consulate General in an Indian city, Bengaluru, and said that this will help in connecting the country's businesses to India's booming digital and innovation ecosystem.

And today, together with Prime Minister @narendramodi , we’re making the ties between India and Australia even stronger. pic.twitter.com/hcuKskcDwt — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 24, 2023

Addressing a joint press conference in Sydney, Australia, PM Albanese said, "I'm pleased to announce the establishment of a new Australian Consulate General in Bengaluru, which will help connect Australian businesses to India's booming digital and innovation ecosystem. And I welcome India's plans for a consulate general in Brisbane."

"The Bengaluru establishment will be the fifth diplomatic presence that is there in India from Australia. I want to thank you again, Prime Minister Modi for visiting and receiving such a warm welcome here. And I look forward to returning to India in September for the G 20 leaders summit," he added.  (ANI)

Addressing the series of temple vandalisms across Australia, PM Modi said that he and his Australian counterpart had discussed the issue in the past and have discussed it again today. He said that it is not acceptable that anyone hurt the cordial relationship between India and Australia by their actions or ideology.

Addressing the joint press meet with PM @AlboMP . https://t.co/BPHlImyWv6 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese today, and discussed a host of issues, including comprehensive economic cooperation and strategic cooperation in areas of mining and critical minerals. PM Modi also said that the Indian community in Australia is a living bridge between India and Australia.

Here are some salient points from the press meet:

? PM Modi said that India-Australia ties are based on mutual trust and confidence. He added that the Indian community in Australia is a living bridge between India and Australia. 

? We discussed taking Indi and Australia's comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights, said PM Modi. He added that the two leaders held detailed discussions on the scope of cooperation in new areas.

? We decided to focus on a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement that will further boost economic ties, PM Modi said, adding that he had a constructive discussion on strategic cooperation in areas of mining and critical minerals with PM Albanese. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart in Sydney, Australia. The meeting was also attended by India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.

Glimpses from Admiralty House in Sydney, where PM @narendramodi was accorded a ceremonial welcome followed by talks with PM @AlboMP . pic.twitter.com/gAMKoW5ibd — PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 24, 2023

PM Modi was on Wednesday accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia. Prime Minister Modi also signed the visitors' book at the Admiralty House in Sydney.  (ANI)

Amid cheering by tens of thousands of supporters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed a grand  community programme  for the Indian diaspora in Sydney. While the PM hailed the India-Australia ties as embodying “mutual trust and mutual respect”, his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese called Modi “the boss”.

Addressing the gathering at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, which was attended by more than 21,000 people from across Australia, PM Modi announced that a new Indian consulate would soon open in Brisbane. The two Prime Ministers also laid the foundation stone for the ‘Little India’ gateway to be built in Harris Park, Sydney, which is inhabited by a large Indian community.  ( Read more )

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday, during his address at the community event in Sydney, lauded India’s banking system.

“Today, the IMF considers India a bright spot in the global economy. The World Bank believes that if anyone is challenging global headwinds, it is India. Banking system in several countries are in trouble today but on the other hand, the strength of India’s banks are being appreciated everywhere,” he said.

He went on to hail India's capabilities and availability of resources. “India has no dearth of capability or resources. Today, India is the biggest and youngest talent factory,” PM Modi asserted during his address.

The official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi Tuesday, following the foundation stone-laying ceremony of ‘Little India’ Gateway to be built in Harris Park, Parramatta, Sydney, said that it would serve as a symbol of "India-Australia friendship." 

Recognising diaspora’s role as a bridge between ?? & ??. PM @narendramodi joined PM @AlboMP for the foundation stone laying ceremony of ‘Little India’ Gateway to be built in Harris Park, Parramatta, Sydney, inhabited by a large Indian community. The Gateway will serve as a… pic.twitter.com/y2nCHZ4dL7 — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 23, 2023

During his speech made at the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the cricket ties between India and Australia. He said that millions of Indians were saddened when Australia spin bowler Shane Warne had passed away.

"When the great Shane Warne passed away last year, then along with Australia, each and every Indian also mourned," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday, addressing the Indian diaspora at the mega community event in Sydney, Australia said, "The basis of historic ties between India and Australia is mutual trust and mutual respect."

Speaking at the event, Modi pushed for strengthening the ties between the two countries. He said, "There are many direct flights between India and Australia... their numbers would further be increased in the coming days."

Moreover, both countries have taken steps towards authorising each others' [educational] degrees, which students will be able to benefit from, said Modi during his speech.

He also announced that there has been a consensus on Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, which will ease travel and work in Australia for India's skilled professionals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese Tuesday renamed the Sydney suburb as ‘Little India’ during the mega community event in Sydney, Australia.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Sydney on Tuesday, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will open a new consulate in Brisbane soon.

During his address, he also asserted India’s position in the world as the “force of global good.”

“India is always ready to help others whenever there is a disaster,” he said. He also hailed India as the “mother of democracy,” as well as a “bright spot” in the global economy.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking at the community event in Sydney, said that PM Modi has got a welcome that rivals that of legendary musician Bruce Springsteen.

#WATCH | "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," says Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the community event in Sydney pic.twitter.com/3nwrmjvDaR — ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2023

The community event at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, featuring PM Narendra Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese, has kicked off. 

PM Modi’s interactions with PM Albanese will be “an opportunity to take stock of our bilateral ties and follow up on our first India-Australia Annual Summit held in New  Delhi  in March this year,” as per an official statement released by the PMO.

PM Modi is slated to hold bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Wednesday. Albanese will also host a dinner for PM Modi, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra during a presser.

In addition, the PM will be attending a meeting with Australian Governor General David Hurley. He will also interact with Australian CEOs and business leaders, and address the Indian diaspora at a community event in Sydney.

The Prime Minister was previously scheduled to attend the Quad summit in Australia as well, but the event was cancelled last week. The leaders of the Quad had conducted their meeting in Hiroshima instead.  ( Read more )

The community event at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park is scheduled to begin soon.

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

In what is being seen as an oblique reference to China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday told leaders of 14 Pacific Island nations on Monday that  India would be a “reliable” development partner , even though those considered trustworthy were “not standing by our sides in times of need”.

Speaking at the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Modi said, “Those we considered trustworthy, it turned out they were not standing by our side in times of need. During these challenging times, an old saying has proven true: ‘A Friend in need is a friend indeed’. I am glad that India stood with its Pacific island friends during this challenging time [the Covid pandemic]. Whether it was vaccines or essential medicines, wheat or sugar; India, in line with its capabilities, has been assisting all partner countries,” reported PTI.  ( Read more )

Tens of thousands of overseas Indians are expected to cheer Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Sydney's biggest sporting arena today, a rare mass showing for a foreign leader in Australia.

MODI MANIA: India's Prime Minister is expected to receive a warm and colourful welcome today from more than 20,000 fans, ahead of his appearance at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. #9News MORE: https://t.co/qE8feuYavS pic.twitter.com/lMNYzsFphx — 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) May 23, 2023

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 a general election next year, after his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost a key state election in southern India this month.

About 20,000 supporters are expected to throng the 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.

"Today, it's all about celebration." Thousands of expatriate Indians throng Australia’s largest entertainment and sporting arena in Sydney to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. @BloombergTV reports from outside the arena https://t.co/a7csCNLize pic.twitter.com/rYzM5ZaCOF — Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) May 23, 2023

A chartered Qantas flight rebranded as "Modi Airways" will bring in fans from Melbourne and "Modi Express" buses are being chartered from Queensland, local ABC News reported.  (Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with prominent Australian public figures working in diverse fields like science, artificial intelligence, social work and art and music and encouraged them to contribute to strengthening the India-Australia relationship.

Modi arrived in Sydney yesterday for the third and final leg of his three-nation tour during which he will hold talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese tomorrow.

Prof. Brian P Schmidt of Australian National University met PM @narendramodi in Sydney. He praised India’s strides in research and science. He says India’s ability to do world-class science has become an order of magnitude higher. @cosmicpinot @ourANU pic.twitter.com/XgqFrmbGOE — PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 23, 2023

The prominent public figures Modi met included Nobel laureate Brian Paul Schmidt, ‘Toilet warrior' Mark Balla, artist Danielle Mate, rockstar Guy Sebastian and celebrity chef and restaurateur Sarah Todd.  (PTI)

A recreational aircraft’s contrails spelt out the words 'Welcome, Modi' ahead of the community event in Sydney, reported the news agency ANI .

#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

PM Modi's visit was covered by several Australian media houses, including two major publications —  The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald .  While the former carried an interview with the PM, the latter ran an article on the community event planned for today. 

PM Narendra Modi is the only one of the Quad nations' leaders to continue with his Australian visit plans after US President Joe Biden pulled out last week to return to Washington to focus on debt limit talks. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who hosted a Group of Seven meeting last week, later cancelled his Australia trip as well.

? Meet with Australian CEOs like Andrew Forrest (Executive Chairman, Fortescue Future Industries), Paul Schroder (CEO, Australian Super), and Gina Rinehart (Executive Chairman Hancock Prospecting)

? Meet and interact with influencers in Australia

? Meet with the Indian diaspora at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena stadium, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in attendance. As per reports, the 20,000-seater stadium has been sold out. The event is being hosted by Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation, which, as per a report in The Sydney Morning Herald , has Jay Shah and Rahul Jethi as directors.

More than a year after  Russia launched a war against Ukraine , Delhi continues to calibrate its position keeping an eye on the evolving situation. This was once again in evidence at the meeting of the G7 in Hiroshima, where  Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out three strong messages .

The first, a call to the international community to “raise your voice against unilateral attempts to change the status quo”, was a clearer reiteration of earlier Indian statements, particularly at the UN, in support of the “contemporary global order […] built on the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states”.  ( Read more )

Shared my thoughts at the session on ‘Working Together to Address Multiple Crisis’. It is important for us to work together for the betterment of our planet and to address the challenges we face relating to sectors such as healthcare, wellness food security and more. https://t.co/XnCCfhN5Ah — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 20, 2023

Narendra Modi has arrived in Sydney for his second Australian visit as Prime Minister and told local media he wants closer bilateral defense and security ties as China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region grows.

PM @narendramodi arrived in the Sydney a short while ago. pic.twitter.com/8UsATBt3YN — PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 22, 2023

Modi told Tuesday’s edition of The Australian newspaper he wanted to take India’s relationship with Australia to the “next level,” including closer defense and security ties to help ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

“As two democracies, India and Australia have shared interests in a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. There is alignment of our strategic viewpoint,” Modi told the newspaper. “The high degree of mutual trust between us has naturally translated into greater cooperation on defense and security matters. Our navies are participating in joint naval exercises. I am confident that there is merit in working together to realise the true potential in closer defense and security cooperation,” Modi added.  (AP)

Informing about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s schedule in Australia, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said: “PM Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and meet Governor General David Hurley. He will also meet leading CEOs and address the Indian community here. Australian PM Anthony Albanese will also host a dinner for PM Modi.”

Landed in Sydney to a warm welcome by the Indian community. Looking forward to various programmes over the next two days. pic.twitter.com/gE8obDI5eD — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2023

PM Modi is slated to hold bilateral talks with Australian PM Anthony Albanese on Wednesday. In addition, the PM will interact with Australian CEOs and business leaders, and address the Indian diaspora at a community event in Sydney. The Prime Minister was previously scheduled to attend the Quad summit in Australia as well, but the event was cancelled last week. The leaders of the Quad had conducted their meeting in Hiroshima instead.

Ahead of Modi’s arrival, Prime Minister Albanese said in a statement, “I am honoured to host Prime Minister Modi for an official visit to Australia, after receiving an extremely warm welcome in India earlier this year.” “Australia and India share a commitment to a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Together we have an important role to play in supporting this vision,” he said, amidst China’s aggressive behaviour in the region as well as its efforts to expand its influence.

Final leg of the three nation tour begins! PM @narendramodi arrives in the vibrant city of Sydney on his second visit to Australia. Two days of constructive engagements with Australian leadership, business community and diaspora members await. pic.twitter.com/X0C4Kj6WkO — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 22, 2023

#WATCH | People from the Indian diaspora greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives in Sydney, Australia. pic.twitter.com/REGbrUNCRp — ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2023

#WATCH | People from the Indian diaspora gather outside a hotel in Sydney to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives in Sydney, Australia. pic.twitter.com/ZJUdHYGHXM — ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Australia after   wrapping up his historic Papua New Guinea   visit. He will be in Australia from May 22-24 as a guest of the government.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Sydney, Australia, as part of the third and final leg of his three-nation visit after concluding his visit to Papua New Guinea. He was received by Australian PM Anthony Albanese. pic.twitter.com/n7w4rxv6qj — ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2023

#WATCH | Australia: Indian Diaspora in Sydney waiting to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Sydney, Australia in the last leg of his three-nation visit. pic.twitter.com/HIPP1rqfKM — ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2023

Indian High Commissioner to Australia Manpreet Vohra today appreciated Australian authorities for their "great responsiveness" on the vandalism of Hindu temples and said that he is confident to see a better situation.

#WATCH | On PM Modi's visit to Australia, Indian High Commissioner to Australia Manpreet Vohra, says, "He has a very substantive round of bilateral discussions with PM Albanese. He will be following up on the discussions that went on when PM Albanese was in India two months ago.… pic.twitter.com/BK9pEMHY9a — ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2023

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Indian High Commissioner to Australia said, "We are seeing great responsiveness from the Australian authorities to our concerns. We are confident that they will go after those who violate the law and indulge in these hate crimes. I am quite confident that going forward, we will see a better situation." After completing his Papua New Guinea trip, PM Modi is scheduled to visit Australia today.

Responding to whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese will discuss the issue of vandalism of Hindu temples, Vohra said, "Vandalism of Hindu temples has been a concern in India and he has also raised a concern with Australian PM Anthony Albanese when he came to India. And we received a response from him as well." Earlier during his visit to India in March, Albanese had reiterated that Australia will act with "full force" to prevent attacks against Hindu temples. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia, early next week,  despite the cancellation of the Quad Summit meeting  in Sydney, is illustrative of the importance that New Delhi accords to the bilateral relationship with Canberra. This is Modi’s second visit to Australia since he assumed office. Few relationships have undergone such a dramatic transformation in just about a decade, and even fewer command greater bipartisan support in Canberra.

When we started the Australia India Institute in Melbourne over a decade ago, we were confronted by 60 years of misperception, lack of trust, neglect, missed opportunities and even hostility. Today, we can say a new chapter in India’s relations with Australia has well and truly begun. This partnership will survive the vicissitudes of international politics as it is built on a near-complete convergence of values and interests. For those in Australia who have roots in India, we see a seamless connectivity between the cultural mosaic of Parramatta in Sydney and Polo View in Srinagar. We are at home in both these culturally vibrant, robustly democratic societies and nations.  ( Read more )

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met his New Zealand counterpart Chris Hipkins during which they discussed the full range of bilateral ties and ways to expand cooperation in various sectors like trade and commerce, education and sports. /p>

Had an excellent meeting with New Zealand PM @chrishipkins and discussed the full range of India-NZ relations. We talked about how to improve commercial and cultural linkages between our nations. pic.twitter.com/iIyHzEMS4q — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2023

Modi met Hipkins on the sidelines of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit.

Giving fresh impetus to ??-?? relationship. PM @narendramodi met PM @chrishipkins of New Zealand in Port Moresby. The two leaders, in what was their first interaction, discussed expanding cooperation in various sectors including trade & commerce, education, culture, sports and… pic.twitter.com/ejbSkNHnIE — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 22, 2023

Wrapping up his Papua New Guinea visit, PM Narendra Modi headed to Australia today, where he is scheduled to meet with PM Anthony Albanese. 

"My Papua New Guinea visit has been a historic one. I will greatly cherish the affection received among the people of this wonderful nation. I also had the opportunity to interact with respected FIPIC leaders and discuss ways to deepen ties with their respective nations. I thank PM James Marape for the warm welcome accorded. Now leaving for Australia to take part in various programmes in Sydney," the PM said in a note on Twitter.

PM @narendramodi concludes a day-long highly impactful first-ever visit to Papua New Guinea. Reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthen partnership with Pacific Island friends. Next destination ?? Sydney. pic.twitter.com/ySlCUo654y — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 22, 2023

Continuing with his engagements in Papua New Guinea, PM Narendra Modi today interacted with the alumni of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation from across Pacific Island Countries, said the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson. 

"India’s ITEC network program, instituted in 1964, offers thousands of fully funded scholarships in various capacity building trainings to countries across the world," the spokesperson added. 

Underlining the role of capacity building in India-PIC partnership. PM @narendramodi interacted with alumni of @ITECnetwork from across Pacific Island Countries (PIC). These ITEC alumni, including government officials, professionals and community leaders, are contributing to… pic.twitter.com/Ufnu6OBeXO — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 22, 2023

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today said he is "honoured" to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sydney and underlined that the two countries share a commitment to a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Prime Minister Albanese also said that he looks forward to celebrating Australia's vibrant Indian community with Prime Minister Modi in Sydney on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Modi will visit Australia from May 22-24 as a guest of the Australian Government.  (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred the highest honour of Fiji, the Companion of the Order of Fiji, by Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji, PMO tweeted Monday.

An honour emblematic of depth of ??-?? relationship. Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae of Papua New Guinea conferred PM @narendramodi with country's highest civilian award, Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL). pic.twitter.com/CZGnfcd44e — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 22, 2023

PM Modi said he was “delighted” to meet his Fiji counterpart and added that the relation between India and Fiji has stood the test of time. “We look forward to working together to further cement it in the coming years,” PM Modi tweeted.  ( Read more )

Indian cuisine and millets found a prominent place at the lunch hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for leaders attending the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation in Port Moresby today.

The lunch included Khandvi, Millet and Vegetable Soup, Malai Kofta, Rajasthani Ragi Gatta Curry, Dal Panchmel, Millet Biryani, Nannu Fulka and Masala Chaas. Paan Kulfi and Malpua were served as desserts. Drinks included Masala Tea, Green Tea, Mint Tea and freshly brewed PNG coffee.

The inclusion of millet in the menu reflects the importance India gives to these small-seeded foods. The UN General Assembly in March 2021 declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets at the behest of the Government of India. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday underlined the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific for the Pacific island nations and said the Quad is working in this direction.

In an address at the FIPIC (Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation) summit, Modi also emphasised the need for multilateralism and respecting the sovereignty and integrity of all countries.

The summit took place at a time when China is making efforts to enhance its military and diplomatic influence in the region.  ( Read more )

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on Monday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Pacific Islands nations consider the Indian premier as the leader of the Global South and will rally behind India's leadership at international forums.

At the FIPIC Summit in Papua New Guinea with fellow FIPIC leaders. pic.twitter.com/nOArwGJWdc — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2023

Highlighting the problems faced by Pacific Islands nations due to the Russia-Ukraine war, Marape said this while addressing the third India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit which was co-chaired by PM Modi.

"We are victims of global powerplay... You (PM Modi) are the leader of Global South. We will rally behind your (India) leadership at global forums," said Marape. He pointed to the inflationary pressure on his country due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.  (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that during his meeting with Prime Minister James Marape, the leaders discussed ways to augment cooperation in commerce, technology, healthcare and in addressing climate change.

Prime Minister James Marape and I had very productive talks, covering the full range of bilateral relations between India and Papua New Guinea. We discussed ways to augment cooperation in commerce, technology, healthcare and in addressing climate change. pic.twitter.com/cKWpyYmdtc — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held talks with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape took stock of their bilateral relations and discussed ways to further augment cooperation in areas like commerce, technology, healthcare and climate change.

Sharing my remarks at the FIPIC Summit. https://t.co/hrAcS0TnYE — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2023

Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the country, also reiterated India’s support and respect for the priorities and wishes of the Pacific Island nations.

He also met the island nation’s Governor-General Bob Dadae separately and discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral partnership across multiple sectors.  ( Read more )

The United States is scheduled to sign a new security pact with Papua New Guinea on Monday as it continues to compete with China for influence in the Pacific.

Papua New Guinea's location just north of Australia makes it strategically significant. It was the site of fierce battles during World War II, and with a population of nearly 10 million people, it's the most populous Pacific Island nation.

The State Department said the new agreement would provide a framework to help improve security cooperation, enhance the capacity of Papua New Guinea's defense force and increase regional stability.  (AP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome by Papua New Guinea’s PM James Marape after he landed in the country for the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit on Sunday.

In a video, Marape and Modi can be seen exchanging a hug and shaking hands after which Marape bends down to touch Modi’s feet.  ( Read more )

Watch | PM Modi reaches Papua New Guinea for Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation summit pic.twitter.com/42hBeNozru — The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) May 21, 2023

Good morning!

Welcome to the live blog where we bring to you the latest updates on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing official international visits to Papaua New Guinea and Australia. Follow the blog and @IndianExpress to stay up to date in real time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome by Papua New Guinea’s PM James Marape after he landed in the country for the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit on Sunday.

In a video, Marape and Modi can be seen exchanging a hug and shaking hands after which Marape bends down to touch Modi’s feet.

Watch | PM Modi reaches Papua New Guinea for Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation summit pic.twitter.com/42hBeNozru — The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) May 21, 2023

It is Modi’s maiden visit to the country and he will be hosting the third summit of FIPIC along with the Papua New Guinea PM.

In a video posted on Twitter, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said, “A very special gesture by Prime Minister Marape here who has come personally to the airport to receive Prime Minister Modi”. ( Read more )

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Follow our news, recent searches, indian pm modi wraps up australia visit with new agreements on migration, green hydrogen, advertisement.

Observers say the visit reflects both nations’ eagerness to build tighter alliances as they seek to deter China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

Darrelle Ng

SYDNEY: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his three-day visit to Australia on Wednesday (May 24), following a rock star reception and new agreements on migration and green hydrogen.

Observers said the visit comes as the two nations seek to forge closer relations in the face of rising tensions in the region.

Mr Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese discussed economic ties and security cooperation, as well as the impact of Russia’s war with Ukraine on developing countries.

The prime ministers announced a new migration agreement that aims to “promote the two-way mobility of students, graduates, academic researchers and business people”.

Analysts said employers coping with labour shortage in Australia and Indian youth seeking opportunities abroad will welcome the deal.

“The two countries are trying to strengthen their trade and investment relations, and further grow their business ties. Hence, easier travel between the two nations is definitely a plus,” University of Mary Washington’s Political Science and International Affairs Professor Surupa Gupta told CNA’s Asia First on Thursday.

The two sides also established a green hydrogen task force to expand collaboration on clean energy, and discussed increasing cooperation on mining and critical minerals.

They are also working towards a comprehensive economic cooperation deal, for which they hope to complete negotiations by the end of the year. Bilateral trade between India and Australia is expected to double to about US$50 billion by 2035.

Mr Modi also said that he raised the topic of a series of attacks on Hindu temples in Australia, to which Mr Albanese assured strict action would be taken.

The Indian leader’s visit was originally planned for a summit for leaders from the Quad group of nations, which along with Japan and the United States, is seen as an alliance working to counter China’s rising influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

However, talks between the grouping were held on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit last weekend in Tokyo instead, as US President Joe Biden had to return to Washington to deal with a debt ceiling crisis .

Australian PM backs G7 on 'de-risking' trade with China

At G7, Japan and Germany want a rethink on the 'Global South'

Modi’s diplomacy blitz.

Mr Modi decided to press on with his Australian trip, visiting the nation for the first time since 2014.

He was given a tremendous welcome by Mr Albanese, who heaped praise on his Indian counterpart and introduced him as a “dear friend” to rapturous applause on Tuesday at a Sydney sporting arena packed to its 20,000 capacity by Australia’s Indian diaspora.

Australia is home to about 750,000 people who claim Indian ancestry, the nation’s fastest growing ethnic minority. 

Mr Modi has embarked on a flurry of diplomacy activities as he looks to boost his appeal, after losing a state election in Karnataka to the main opposition party last week.

Before Australia , Mr Modi visited Papua New Guinea, where he met 14 Pacific island leaders and pledged his support for the region.

Next month, he will meet President Biden as he travels to Washington for a state visit .

FORGING CLOSER TIES

Observers said Mr Modi’s trip to Sydney, made just two months after Australian PM Albanese visited India , reflects both nations’ eagerness to build tighter alliances as they seek to deter China’s growing assertiveness in the region. 

CNA938's interview with James Schwemlein, nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

“China’s economic coercion towards Australia in recent years, and the clashes along the Indian-Chinese border, are driving these two countries closer together quickly,” said Mr James Schwemlein, a nonresident scholar in the South Asia programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Australia has been looking to diversify its export markets, after diplomatic ties with its biggest trading partner China soured in the past few years.

Meanwhile, India is struggling to cut its import dependence with its neighbour on the back of a surging trade deficit.

However, experts said China will likely remain the largest trading partner to both nations, and efforts to significantly reduce economic ties to China continues to be an “aspirational dream”.

“There's no question that India’s potential economically is a strong one – a democratic, fast growing, large country with a highly educated population and yet still relatively low wage labour,” Mr Schwemlein told CNA938’s Asia First.

“Competitively, India is an important way to respond to China. But (replacing China) is not something that is close to occurring today.”

‘De-risk’ instead of ‘decouple’ from China: What changed at the G7 summit?

Australia defends Quad's relevance despite Biden's absence | Video

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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

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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.

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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.”

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‘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.”

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India and Australia set to hold talks to boost defense and strategic ties

This photo released by India’s External Affairs Ministry shows Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong, left being received by an unidentified Indian official upon arrival at the airport in New Delhi, India, Monday, Nov.23, 2023. India and Australia are set to hold talks focused on bolstering their strategic, defense and security ties on Monday in New Delhi. (Indian External Affairs Ministry via AP)

Australia’s captain Pat Cummins, left, shakes hands with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks on after Australia won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final match against India in Ahmedabad, India, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

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NEW DELHI (AP) — India and Australia are set to hold talks focused on bolstering their strategic, defense and security ties on Monday in New Delhi.

Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong and defense minister Richard Marles arrived to meet with their counterparts for the second India-Australia 2+2 Dialogue, where they’re expected to discuss regional and global issues, according to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

“Both sides will also exchange views on shared priorities for strengthening minilateral and multilateral cooperation,” the statement said.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with Marles, who is also the deputy prime minister. India’s Minister of External Affairs Subhramanyam Jaishankar will take stock of ties between the two countries with his counterpart Wong on Tuesday, according to the statement.

The talks come a few weeks after India hosted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin in New Delhi, where both countries underlined their commitment to boosting security ties , and reaffirmed their support for a free and resilient Indo-Pacific region.

India and Australia are also part of the Quad, an alliance that includes Japan and the United States, which aims to counter China’s rising influence in Asia.

The two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020, when they signed various agreements to strengthen defense ties and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Earlier this year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in India on a four-day visit where he held talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and praised the two countries’ progress in ties, including in scientific and technological cooperation and military exercises.

Marles arrived Sunday, and watched Australia beat India to win the Cricket World Cup for the 6th time in Ahmedabad city. The victory, much to India’s dismay, ended the host country’s dominant run in the tournament.

India, Australia aim to boost economic, defence ties at first summit of PMs

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Reporting by Krishn Kaushik in NEW DELHI and Kirsty Needham in SYDNEY; Editing by Y.P Rajesh and Sharon Singleton

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Krishn reports on politics and strategic affairs from the Indian subcontinent. He has previously worked at the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, an international investigative consortium; The Indian Express; and The Caravan magazine, writing about defence, politics, law, conglomerates, media, elections and investigative projects. A graduate of Columbia University's journalism school, Krishn has won multiple awards for his work.

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Closer relations between Australia and India have the potential to benefit both nations

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The structure of Andrew Charlton’s Australia’s Pivot to India is built on three promises: the promise of India; the promise of the Australia-India relationship; and the promise of the Indian diaspora becoming a powerful mainstream force in Australian politics.

At a time when the Indian diaspora is attracting attention globally, this book – launched on Wednesday by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – will be read, and read widely.

Review: Australia’s Pivot to India – Andrew Charlton (Black Inc.)

Unfortunately, the successes of the diaspora have been temporarily overshadowed by the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation that Indian government agents were involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver. Nijjar was an advocate for a separate Khalistan Sikh state and the government of India believed he was involved in terrorist activities. India has categorically denied Trudeau’s charge.

Written for a discerning but popular audience, Australia’s Pivot to India is an elegant volume that treads ground familiar to those who have followed the bilateral relationship. The book serves as a primer and a political manifesto embedded in Charlton’s weltanschauung . It is written with finesse and fluency, but hurriedly: there is at least one sentence borrowed from my writings, used without attribution.

Charlton, the federal member for Parramatta and a rising star of the Australian Labor Party, is a believer. He is persuaded by India’s contemporary success and advocates the need for even greater intimacy between New Delhi and Canberra. For him, India’s rise is almost inevitable. As he puts it:

For all its twists and turns, India’s journey has brought it to a point of extraordinary promise. Just as the twentieth century was said to be the American Century, and the nineteenth century was the Age of Empire, we may well end the twenty-first century with India on top. India is already the largest nation in the world by population. And it’s growing so quickly that by 2070 its population should rival that of China, the United States and the European Union combined. India also has the fastest economic growth of any major nation. It has the second-largest armed forces and the fastest growing military capability in the world.

Will this book, and the earlier Peter Varghese report An India Economic Strategy to 2035 , do for India what the Ross Garnaut report and Kevin Rudd’s writings did for China three decades ago?

Read more: India has landed on the Moon: here's what the political and economic gains are

Charlton’s book is dedicated to the people of Parramatta and the Indian diaspora across Australia. But his India-focused political vision speaks beyond the Little India of his Parramatta electorate.

For his electorate and the Indian audience of his book, Charlton is preaching to the converted. Indians, including its diaspora across the world, believe in India’s rise probably more strongly than the most generous outsider.

While the Chinese were content to emerge after just 150 years of Western humiliation, many Indians believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Amrit Kaal – literally the “age of immortality” – will see the return of the “Golden Age” of India after nearly 2000 years of suppression. Amrit Kaal refers to the period between 75 years and 100 years of India’s independence (2022-2047): a period in which it is projected that India will transition to become a developed country.

While Charlton focuses on India’s staggering demographics and its growth story, more recent news has also celebrated the country’s rise. As the Economist recently suggested :

In 2008 China used the Beijing Olympic games as a “coming-out party” to show itself off to the world. For India, the Presidency of the G20 has served much the same purpose.

The G-20 Summit in September demonstrated India’s convening power and its ability to generate a consensus at what is arguably the most important forum engaged with the globe’s most consequential problems. The summit, and 200-odd meetings held all over India this year, brought the diversity, colour and genius of the Indian people onto the world stage with a new confidence.

Civilisational strength

Soft power is too vulgar, too belittling a term, to describe arguably the most resilient source of India’s power: a civilisational strength often suppressed by a lack of self-confidence. This has changed, and changed in such a way that India is being perceived as a key destination for dialogue and debate over the most contentious of issues.

Despite the seductive force of realpolitik, India seems to be able to retain its core values and its space, as well as its conscience. The theme of India’s G-20 presidency – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam : a Sanskrit term meaning one earth, one family, one future – signalled this. The theme was fleshed out in the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration :

We meet at a defining moment in history where the decisions we make now will determine the future of our people and our planet. It is with the philosophy of living in harmony with our surrounding ecosystem that we commit to concrete actions to address global challenges.

Simultaneously, India has become the voice for an alternative technological vision. Just ahead of the summit, World Bank G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion released a document that endorsed the transformative impact in India of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which allow different computer programs to communicate with each other.

It pointed out that a comprehensive data coordination system, known as the JAM trinity , has increased rates of participation in the Indian financial system from 25% in 2008 to over 80% of adults in last six years, and that it could do for much for the world.

The government established an electronic identification system, known as the Aadhaar , which provides a unique identification number, based on biometrics, to everyone resident in India. Its electronic financial inclusion program, the Jan Dhan Yojana , lets every citizen open a bank account, which provides access to a debit card, accident insurance cover, an overdraft facility and transfer of all direct benefits from the government. All transactions can be done through a mobile phone.

This technology is part of what has come to be known as the India Stack – open-access software that can be provided to all those interested in the Global South.

India’s insistence on the African Union’s inclusion in the now G-21 was also rooted in this “alternative” vision of not losing your heart, even while being dictated by your head.

Read more: AU and G20: membership will give Africa more say on global issues – if it speaks with one voice

Mutual understanding

All of these developments complement the argument Charlton develops in Australia’s Pivot to India and will surely find place in the next edition of the book. The bulk of his book is concerned with examining the past, present and future of the bilateral relationship.

Charlton does well to look beyond the clichés of the “3Cs”: Commonwealth, cuisine and cricket. He considers multiple sectors where there are enormous opportunities for the relationship to grow. The “3Cs” lead to the “4Ds”: democracy, defence, dosti (friendship) and the diaspora.

Business, politics, media, education and culture are also identified by Charlton as potential areas of development. As he incisively points out:

Australia’s pivot to India should aspire to build a distinctive relationship that goes beyond transactional engagement and circumstantial alignment […] the essence of the partnership is to deepen the relationship with mutual investment in common endeavours across every sphere of our interactions.

The aim should be “to increase mutual understanding, build relationships and breed familiarity”. With their “expertise and energy”, the almost one-million-strong diaspora can play a key role in cementing the relationship and is therefore a “vital part of Australia’s pivot to India”.

In fleshing out areas of cooperation, Charlton illustrates the huge potential of the Australia-India partnership. As I have written in the foreword of historian Meg Gurry’s book on the bilateral relationship (the only full-length study on the relationship, which Charlton cites extensively):

After six decades characterised by misperception, lack of trust, neglect, missed opportunities and even hostility, a new chapter in India’s relations with Australia has begun.

Consider this: in 1955, Robert Menzies decided Australia should not take part in the Bandung Afro-Asian conference, which had been organised by India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). In doing so, Menzies – who would later confess that Occidentals did not understand India – alienated Indians, offended Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and left Australia unsure about its Asian identity for decades.

In 2011, when I became the inaugural director of the Australia India Institute (whose seminal role in building the bilateral relationship Charlton almost completely ignores), I made a giant leap of faith. I had not visited Australia before and had little knowledge of the country. My friends warned me I was literally going “Down Under”, soon to become irrelevant and marginal to all policy issues in India. My teenage daughters were told they risked being bashed up in school and college. My extended family was astounded.

But today I have no doubt it was one of the best decisions of my life. With not one unpleasant experience in the country, as a family we have found Australians open, friendly, fair, accepting and generous, and the country a model of good governance.

In September 2014, when Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott visited India – the first stand-alone state visit to be hosted by the Modi government – he brought a sordid chapter of bilateral relations to a close. When asked why Australia had agreed to export uranium to India, which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Abbott was unequivocal: “We trust you!”

No better declaration could have been made to reflect the new Australian belief in the promise and potential of this relationship, for it was the deficit of understanding and faith that severely undermined the relationship in the past.

In a reciprocal gesture, in November of that year, Mr Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Australia in 28 years , adding new ballast to the relationship. Since then, the bilateral relationship has grown in strength, and across the board.

Today there are few countries in the Indo-Pacific which share so much in common, in both values and interests, than India and Australia. From water management and clean energy, to trauma research, skills and higher education, counter-terrorism, maritime and cybersecurity, there is a world of opportunities that awaits the two countries if they work in close coordination with each other.

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Australian PM Anthony Albanese on 4-day India visit from today. Trade, investment, cricket on agenda

Australian prime minister anthony albanese, who will be on a four-day visit to india beginning today, will watch the fourth test between australia and india with pm modi. albanese is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising top ministers and businessmen..

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be on a four-day state visit to India from March 8 to March 11. It’s the first visit by an Australian prime minister in six years and comes on the heels of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which entered into force in December.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Australian prime minister will be accompanied by Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator Don Farell and Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King and other senior officials, along with a high-level business delegation during this visit.

Ahead of his visit, Anthony Albanese on Wednesday took to Twitter and in a series of posts, he said, "Today I’m bringing a delegation of ministers and business leaders to India. At the kind invitation of PM Narendra Modi, we'll be visiting Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi."

Today I’m bringing a delegation of ministers and business leaders to India. pic.twitter.com/XatHeg51l0 — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 8, 2023

ANTHONY ALBANESE IN INDIA - AGENDA

During his India visit, the Australian prime minister is likely to announce significant investments in the rare earth sector in Australia.

KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited) is set to make a significant investment in the rare earth sector in Australia, a move welcomed by the Australian government and the Indian government, particularly by the business community.

India and Australia are keen to cooperate in the field of clean energy and have taken several initiatives on the matter.

In February 2022, India and Australia signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on New and Renewable Energy, which provides for cooperation towards bringing down the cost of renewable energy (RE) technologies, especially ultralow-cost solar and clean hydrogen. ALSO READ Of course, discussed cricket, says Jaishankar after meeting Australian PM

• Australian PM Albanese will arrive at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad at 4.10 pm (IST) on Wednesday and will visit the Sabarmati Ashram
• At 5.20 pm, he will visit the Raj Bhavan to participate in the Holi event
• On 9 March (Thursday), Anthony Albanese will leave for Mumbai
• On March 10, the Australian PM will participate in the Ceremonial Reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, which will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rajghat.
• On the same day, Albanese will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
• The Australian prime minister will also be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi and President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• The two counterparts will also watch the first day of the fourth Test between Australia and India of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophi at the Narendra Modi Stadium at Motera on Thursday.

Her investigations were not welcome in Modi’s India, so neither was she

Singapore: The ABC’s lead India correspondent Avani Dias has returned to Australia after a campaign of intimidation and bureaucratic meddling by the nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A decision to withhold Dias’ visa came after an episode of Foreign Correspondent about Sikh separatism aired last month and before the final instalment of her podcast investigating Modi’s life.

Lobbying from the office of Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong won Dias, from the ABC’s South Asia bureau, a mere two-month visa extension – but it was not delivered until after she and her partner had packed up their New Delhi home and made arrangements to leave.

They flew to Australia the next day, which was also the opening of India’s weeks-long national elections . Modi and his right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are expected to win comfortably.

Dias discusses the situation in the finale of her podcast series Looking for Modi.

“The Modi administration gave me the visa in the very last minute,” she says in the episode.

“But it felt too difficult to do my job in India. I was struggling to get into public events run by Modi’s party. The government wouldn’t even give me the passes I need to cover the election.

“It’s by design. The Narendra Modi government has made me feel so uncomfortable that we decided to leave.”

It is understood Dias, a multiple Walkley Award finalist and former host of Triple J’s current affairs flagship Hack, applied for a routine one-year visa extension early this year. But shortly before the existing visa was due to expire this month, Dias was informed her Foreign Correspondent story was not welcome, and neither was she.

The phone call from the official inside the Ministry of External Affairs also raised the podcast about Modi.

Weeks later, while the Australian government was working behind the scenes, India’s Press Information Bureau told the ABC she would not be granted election accreditation because of a direct order from External Affairs.

Journalists in India say they are increasingly subject to state intimidation, or worse. Some have been jailed. Others have been stripped of their status as an Overseas Citizen of India, a scheme allowing foreigners of Indian origin or with an Indian spouse to come and go easily.

However, such extreme cases involving Western organisations with reporters established in the country are exceedingly rare.

Critics accuse the government of enforcing an authoritarian brand of Hindu-nationalism and using state institutions to silence dissent, including the jailing this year of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Weeks after the BBC broadcast a documentary about Modi’s actions as the Chief Minister of Gujarat during deadly 2002 sectarian riots, tax authorities raided the broadcaster’s Indian offices.

The Modi administration stresses its agencies are always independent.

The Foreign Correspondent piece explored the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, which authorities there pinned on Indian state operatives. Filming took the crew to Nijjar’s family home in India and to several activists still agitating for an independent Sikh nation called Khalistan. The issues – Khalistan and Nijjar’s personal story – are extremely sensitive to the Indian government.

The journalists were questioned in Punjab by the Criminal Intelligence Department and, despite prior approval, were blocked from filming a public event at the India-Pakistan border.

After the program aired, the Indian government used its laws to force YouTube and other social media sites to wipe this episode, and a separate news package featuring Australian Sikh activists from their Indian platforms.

The phone call from the ministry came soon after. In addition to crossing the uncrossable line of Sikh separatism, the ABC was told the episode breached foreign journalist visa rules because it was 30 minutes long. Authorities, therefore, deemed it a documentary, which had different visa requirements.

Dias and other news journalists have previously reported at this length without trouble.

“The ABC fully backs and stands by the important and impactful reporting by Avani Dias during her time as ABC correspondent in India,” ABC managing director David Anderson said.

“Avani joins the Four Corners team as a reporter in coming weeks. The ABC believes strongly in the role of independent journalism across the globe, and freedom of the press outside Australia.”

The Ministry of External Affairs and Wong’s office have been contacted for comment.

Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .

The ABC’s India reporter has returned to Australia after a campaign of intimidation by PM Narendra Modi’s government.

A decision to withhold Dias’ visa came after an episode of Foreign Correspondent about Sikh separatism aired last month.

Critics accuse the government of enforcing an authoritarian brand Hindu-nationalism and using state institutions to silence dissent.

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China Had a ‘Special Place’ in Modi’s Heart. Now It’s a Thorn in His Side.

As Narendra Modi seeks a third term as prime minister, India’s rupture with China looms over a pillar of his campaign: making his country a major power.

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By Mujib Mashal and Sameer Yasir

Reporting from New Delhi

Narendra Modi once looked up to China. As a business-friendly Indian state leader, he traveled there repeatedly to attract investment and see how his country could learn from its neighbor’s economic transformation. China, he said , has a “special place in my heart.” Chinese officials cheered on his march to national power as that of “a political star.”

But not long after Mr. Modi became prime minister in 2014, China made clear that the relationship would not be so easy. Just as he was celebrating his 63rd birthday by hosting China’s leader, Xi Jinping — even sitting on a swing with him at a riverside park — hundreds of Chinese troops were intruding on India’s territory in the Himalayas, igniting a weekslong standoff.

A decade later, ties between the world’s two most populous nations are almost completely broken. Continued border incursions flared into a ferocious clash in 2020 that threatened to lead to all-out war. Mr. Modi, a strongman who controls every lever of power in India and has expanded its relations with many other countries, appears uncharacteristically powerless in the face of the rupture with China.

As Mr. Modi seeks a third term in an election that begins on Friday, the tensions weigh heavily on the overarching narrative of his campaign: that he is making India a major global power and, by extension, restoring national pride. Far from the 2,100-mile border, along every avenue where India seeks to expand, China looms as a fierce competitor.

In India’s own backyard in South Asia, China has used its vast resources — the fruits of economic reforms introduced decades before India’s — to challenge Indian pre-eminence, courting partners through infrastructure deals and gaining access to strategic ports.

More broadly, China and India are vying to lead the developing nations of the so-called global south. When India hosted the Group of 20 summit last year, using it to showcase its support of poorer countries, Mr. Xi skipped the event. China has also been a major roadblock in India’s campaign to gain a coveted permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

“Today, you encounter an India which perhaps you had never seen before, in many senses,” said Nirupama Menon Rao, a former Indian ambassador to China and the United States. “I think the Chinese are increasingly aware of it, and they would still like to pull us down, to create barriers.”

India’s estrangement with China has provided an opening for Western nations to expand defense and economic ties with New Delhi, a distressing development for Beijing.

India signed a series of deals with the United States last year to strengthen military cooperation . India has also drawn closer to the other two members of the so-called Quad, Australia and Japan, as the group works to counter China’s projection of power.

In addition, India sees an opportunity as the United States and Europe look for alternatives to China as a place to make their products. One early success has been sharply increased production of iPhones in India.

But even with these openings, China continues to expose Indian insecurities. The Chinese economy is about five times the size of India’s, and China remains India’s second-biggest trade partner (after the United States), exporting about six times as much to India as it imports. China spends more than three times what India does on its military, giving its forces a significant advantage across land, sea and air.

The Indian military, which has long struggled to modernize, is now forced to be conflict-ready on two fronts , with China to India’s east and archrival Pakistan to its west.

Tens of thousands of troops from both India and China remain on a war footing high in the Himalayas four years after the deadly skirmishes broke out in the disputed Eastern Ladakh region, where both countries have been building up their military presence. Nearly two dozen rounds of negotiations have failed to bring disengagement.

Although the political opposition has tried to paint Mr. Modi as weak in the face of Chinese encroachment, the border incursions are unlikely to hurt him much politically, given the lack of news coverage from a largely sympathetic Indian media .

Still, Mr. Modi has had to prioritize billions of dollars for border infrastructure and military upgrades as India still struggles to cover the basic needs of its 1.4 billion people. His government is drawing up plans to repopulate hundreds of border villages as a second line of defense against the constant threat of Chinese encroachment.

S. Jaishankar, Mr. Modi’s external affairs minister, admitted recently that there were “no easy answers” to the dilemma posed by India’s aggressive neighbor. “They are changing, we are changing,” Mr. Jaishankar said . “How do we find an equilibrium?”

In a book published in 2020, just as he had taken over as Mr. Modi’s trusted foreign policy architect, Mr. Jaishankar wrote that the tensions between the United States and China set “the global backdrop” for India’s choices in a “world of all against all.” India’s ambitions as a major power, he wrote, would require a juggling act: “engage America, manage China, cultivate Europe, reassure Russia.”

India’s rise as a large, growing economy has allowed it to hold its ground — working with any partner it can benefit from — in a polarized and uncertain world.

Even as India has expanded defense ties with the United States and doubled bilateral trade over the past decade, to about $130 billion in goods alone, it has resisted American pressure to reconsider its strong relations with Russia. India has deepened connections with Europe and the Middle East, too; trade with the United Arab Emirates alone has reached $85 billion.

While India remains wary of becoming a pawn in the West’s fight with Beijing, and has not forgotten its frosty history with the United States, China has become an unavoidable focus after being a secondary threat for much of modern Indian history.

India’s socialist founding prime minister was accommodating of Communist China, but the bonhomie was shattered by a monthlong war in 1962 that left thousands dead. The relationship began to normalize in the 1980s even as incursions continued, and open channels of communication kept tensions down and elevated trade.

“It was a different China,” said Ms. Rao, the former top diplomat.

The situation changed in the years before Mr. Modi took office, she said. As its economy soared, China began flexing its muscles — investing heavily in its Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, which India saw as threatening its security and spheres of influence, and moving more aggressively on its borders and in the Indian Ocean.

Still, Mr. Modi, blacklisted by the United States when he was a state leader over his role in bloody religious riots, continued to extend a hand to Beijing. As prime minister, he did not allow the embarrassment of the Chinese incursion in 2014 to dampen his red-carpet welcome to Mr. Xi. His subtle message — a warning that “a little toothache can paralyze the entire body” — carried the hope that Mr. Xi would come around.

That hope ended with the deadly 2020 clash in Eastern Ladakh. Now, it is clear that New Delhi is resigned to a long-term threat from China, a shift evident in Mr. Modi’s push for road and tunnel construction in border areas to support a large troop presence.

Over the past five years, more than 2,200 miles of roads have been built along the border. In the Kashmir region, over 2,000 workers have been busy for three years digging a high-altitude tunnel that will improve connectivity to Ladakh.

When the tunnel project, which will cost more than $850 million, is completed, it will ensure that traffic moves year round, and reduce travel time by hours.

“For four months, the supplies to the Indian Army were cut off because the road would get closed,” said Harpal Singh, the project head. “After this tunnel is complete, that will not happen again.”

Mr. Modi’s government is also trying to revive hundreds of villages along the border to fortify defenses.

Through a program called Vibrant Villages, the government is working to develop infrastructure, extend services and nurture tourism in the hope of reversing the economic migration that created “ghost villages.”

“What India could have done in the last 20 years, they have to do now in two,” said ​​Sonam Murup, a retired Indian Army officer from Ladakh, referring to infrastructure development in his area.

“Our situation is much better now,” he said. “But when you look toward the Chinese side, you can see villages full of lights.”

Joy Dong contributed reporting from Hong Kong.

Mujib Mashal is the South Asia bureau chief for The Times, helping to lead coverage of India and the diverse region around it, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. More about Mujib Mashal

Sameer Yasir covers news from India and other countries in the region. He is based in New Delhi. More about Sameer Yasir

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Narendra Modi mixes politics and sport at India-Australia fourth Test with Anthony Albanese chariot ride

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have been feted in front of a roaring crowd of some 50,000 people at the fourth Australia-India cricket test in Ahmedabad.

The two leaders did a lap of honour around Narendra Modi stadium in a gold-painted chariot emblazoned with bat, wicket and ball to celebrate 75 years of cricketing contests between the two nations.

They also met the players on both teams and presented caps to the respective captains, as well as touring a special cricketing expedition set up inside the stadium before play got underway.

Mr Albanese was beaming at the reception, describing the experience as a "highlight of his life."

The opening ceremony was part of a broader charm offensive mounted by the Indian government, which has poured considerable resources into Mr Albanese's visit.

The prime minister's face has been splashed everywhere in Ahmedabad, a city of 9 million people, for the visit.

It's plastered on billboards every few metres along main roads, on roundabouts, and at the local cricket stadium – the largest in the world – where Mr Albanese's photo towers over the entry gates.

Mr Albanese isn't alone in these photos. Next to him is India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside the slogan "75 years of friendship through cricket".

It's unheard of to see the prime minister's face so prominently displayed at an international sporting event in Australia, in fact, it would probably be frowned upon by many sports fans.

But in India — where Mr Albanese is touring this week — the Modi government is putting on a show.

That show is being put on to send a clear message, that India is ready to embrace Australia.

Inside India's charm offensive

Mr Albanese landed in Ahmedabad late on Wednesday.

Dancers, drummers and acrobats lined the road for his motorcade as it wended its way out of the airport and into the city streets.

And there was real warmth when he arrived at the official residence of the Governor of Gujarat to celebrate Holi – a joyous festival marking the arrival of spring.

Mr Albanese was showered with marigold petals, and his face daubed with Holi colours while diplomats and officials from both countries broke into laughter.

When asked about the massive billboards with his face plastered over them, Mr Albanese joked it would be "hard to not have noticed them".

"Certainly I'm very honoured — not for myself, for Australia," he told reporters.

"It says how valued the relationship with Australia is that the government of India and Prime Minister Modi have put such a major effort into making us feel so welcome."

But perhaps the best showcase remains cricket – a game loved in both India and Australia.

In a nation where the sport is inextricably linked to politics, there's no better place to cement ties between the countries than on the first day of the fourth Test.

The event has been tightly controlled, with more than 2,000 police and security officers deployed to protect the leaders, drawing criticism that it's being managed to present a glorified view of the Indian government.

Test marred by ticket controversy

Access to the cricket has also been a source of controversy.

Tickets were initially unavailable online for Thursday's Test, which had angered fans travelling from overseas.

Tim Hill from the New South Wales South coast had to use personal connections to secure tickets, after travelling around India to watch every other match in the series.

"We were fearful for some days. [The tickets] weren't released at all for day one," he told the ABC.

"I think it sucks … politics and sport don't mix."

The stadium can seat 130,000 people and in the days leading up to the match additional tickets in some small sections of the stadium were made available to the public.

But most of the seats were uncovered, in higher parts of the stadium.

"They're really bad seats," Mr Hill said.

Cricket Australia (CA) tweeted that it was aware Australian fans were not able to secure tickets for the first day.

After pressure, some tickets were released for Australians.

"A box office is being set up at the stadium for Aussie fans to buy tickets," CA tweeted.

Critics say they would be not be surprised if tickets were reserved for supporters of the Modi government, to ensure that his event with Mr Albanese goes smoothly.

The Gujarat Cricket Association's chief executive, Dhiraj Jogani, confirmed that boxes had been set aside for both countries' ministerial delegations, and up to 15,000 seats were made unavailable due to security concerns.

But he denied any other tickets had been held or prioritised for people of particular political affiliations.

"No-one has been blocked and they're permitted to buy tickets online," he said.

The Modi government has a history of carefully managed events for visiting leaders from the West.

In 2020, ahead of then-US president Donald Trump's visit to Ahmedabad, workers were seen scrubbing up the city and hiding slums, while thousands of Modi supporters were put on the streets to cheer for the leader.

"Certain countries get preferential treatment, countries that play out well in the internal domestic media, countries where we can project the idea, however misleading it may be, of shared values," said veteran journalist and political editor of Indian magazine The Caravan, Hartosh Singh Bal.

"I think these are the kinds of visits that are showcased, most certainly the Australian visit fits this mould."

The politics of sport in India

Political parties have had a strong hold over the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), which is linked to the extremely powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The association has the authority to choose players, umpires and officials.

In 2009, before Narendra Modi became PM, he was unanimously elected as president of the Gujarat Cricket Association.

The Ahmedabad stadium is named after him, and Mr Modi was the driving force behind a $145 million redevelopment of it.

After Mr Modi was elected prime minister, his current Home Affairs Minister, Amit Shah, took over as the GCA president. Mr Shah's son, Jay, is now the secretary of the BCCI.

Members of India's opposition party Congress also hold senior positions on the BCCI and have previously held roles on the GCA as well.

"In India, cricket has become politics by other means," Mr Bal said.

"This government clearly sees the power of cricket domestically, and its influence on the Indian public, and it has controlled it in the same fashion as it controls the country and its politics."

Mr Bal said there would be a "spectacle" for Mr Albanese on his visit.

"There are people who would talk of the greatness of Modi, the popularity of Modi, the idea of an emerging strong nation that is taking its rightful place on the world stage [and] a partner of Australia in terms of democratic values," he said.

"All these things are par for the course."

What can Albanese expect in India?

Mr Albanese is in India to strengthen the relationship with Australia by tapping into the South Asian nation's innovative developments as both countries pivot away from China.

But the Modi government's push to control its own image will be an issue Mr Albanese will have to navigate carefully during his visit.

Mr Modi has been criticised for cracking down on the media, recently banning a BBC documentary scrutinising his treatment of the Muslim minority .

An Indian government spokesman has denied there are restrictions on the media and consistently dismissed criticisms of the country's human rights record, saying it "values religious freedom and human rights".

"I think the Modi government would certainly care and would be very discomforted by any focus on these issues," Mr Bal said.

"But I do not see the Australian government … at this point raising these issues because it's not mutually convenient.

"India is increasingly being seen by Western democracies and countries like Australia as a bulwark against China … and part of the bargain is that these countries then pretend and play the game of shared values of how India is the world's greatest democracy.

"That is the part that Modi wants everybody outside the country to wink at.

"And not talk about what is going wrong, whether in terms of the autocratic way in which this government functions, the kind of control it exercises over the media, and what is happening to minorities, especially Muslims in the country."

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Modi accused of hate speech for calling Muslims 'infiltrators' at a rally days into India's election

NEW DELHI — India ’s main opposition party is accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of hate speech after he called Muslims “infiltrators” and used some of his most incendiary rhetoric to date about the minority faith in an election rally days after the country began its weekslong general election .

At the rally on Sunday in the western state of Rajasthan, Modi said that when the Congress party was in government, “they said Muslims have the first right over the country’s resources.” If it returns to power, the party “will gather all your wealth and distribute it among those who have more children,” he said as the crowd applauded.

“They will distribute it among infiltrators,” he continued, saying, “Do you think your hard-earned money should be given to infiltrators?”

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a spokesperson for Congress, called the prime minister’s remarks “deeply, deeply objectionable” and said the party on Monday had sought action from the Election Commission of India, which oversees the six-week voting period, which began Friday.

The remarks drew fierce criticism for peddling anti-Muslim tropes, and for breaking election rules that bar candidates from engaging in any activity that aggravates religious tensions. The Election Commission of India’s model code of conduct forbids candidates to “appeal to caste or communal feelings” to secure votes.

Asaduddin Owaidi, a Muslim lawmaker and president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen party, said on Sunday: “Modi today called Muslims infiltrators and people with many children. Since 2002 till this day, the only Modi guarantee has been to abuse Muslims and get votes.”

Critics of Modi, an avowed Hindu nationalist, say India’s tradition of diversity and secularism has come under attack since his party won power in 2014 and returned for a second term in 2019. They accuse Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party of fostering religious intolerance and sometimes even violence. The party denies the accusation and says its policies benefit all Indians.

But rights groups say that attacks against minorities have become more brazen under Modi. Scores of Muslims have been lynched by Hindu mobs over allegations of eating beef or smuggling cows, an animal considered holy to Hindus. Muslim businesses have been boycotted, their homes and businesses have been bulldozed and places of worship set on fire. Some open calls have been made for their genocide . 

Modi’s remarks on Sunday were based on a 2006 statement by then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the Congress party. Singh said that India’s lower castes, tribes, women and, “in particular the Muslim minority” were empowered to share in the country’s development equally. 

“They must have the first claim on resources,” Singh had said. A day later, his office clarified that Singh was referring to all of the disadvantaged groups.

Modi and his party are expected to win the election, according to most surveys. The results come out on June 4. 

The Congress party’s president, Mallikarjun Kharge, described Modi’s comments as “hate speech.” “In the history of India, no prime minister has lowered the dignity of his post as much as Modi has,” Kharge wrote on social media platform X.

In its petition to the election commission, the party said that Modi and the BJP have repeatedly used religion, religious symbols and sentiments in their election campaign with impunity. “These actions have been further bolstered by the commission’s inaction in penalizing the prime minister and the BJP for their blatant violations of electoral laws,” it said. 

The commission’s code of conduct is not legally binding on its own, but it can issue notices and suspend campaigners for a certain amount of time over violations.

“We decline comment,” a spokesperson for the commission told the Press Trust of India news agency on Monday. 

In his speech, Modi also referred to a Hindu nationalist myth that Muslims were overtaking the Hindu population by having more children. Hindus make up 80% of India’s 1.4 billion population, while the country’s 200 million Muslims make up 14%. Official data shows that fertility rates among Muslims have dropped the fastest among religious groups in recent decades, from 4.4 in 1992-93 to 2.3 between 2019-21, just a bit higher than Hindus at 1.94.

Modi’s BJP has previously referred to Muslims as infiltrators and cast them as illegal migrants who crossed into India from Bangladesh and Pakistan. Several states run by the BJP have also made laws that restrict interfaith marriage, citing the myth of “love jihad,” an unproven conspiracy theory used by Hindu hard-line groups to accuse Muslim men of converting Hindu women by marriage.

Through it all, Modi has maintained a conspicuous silence, which critics say has emboldened some of his most extreme supporters and enabled more hate speech against Muslims.

The Associated Press