Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has been given a thunderous welcome as he delivered a speech to a crowd of 16,000 fans in Sydney
Members of the Indian community from across Sydney and as far afield as Melbourne erupted in chants of “Modi, Modi, Modi” as the white-bearded 64-year-old appeared at the Allphones Arena.
Modi dedicated the welcome to the people of his home country.
After acknowledging the traditional Indigenous owners of the land in English, Modi continued in Hindi.
“This love, this welcome, this respect I give to the children of Mother India,” he said.
The arena again erupted in cheers as one man in the audience yelled out “Modi the rock star!”.
Eight Indian TV broadcasters are covering the event and beaming it across India.
The Indian PM’s appearance was preceded by an elaborate stage show of costumed dancers and thundering beats from a Campbelltown-based Indian drumming group.
With all free tickets to the event snapped up, Modi fans, many clad in commemorative T-shirts bearing the prime minister’s visage, overflowed into viewing areas outside the stadium, among them credit analyst Amrita Burman.
“He represents change from the status quo in India,” she said, explaining the Bharatiya Janata party leader’s wild appeal.
“The old ones were quite elitist. He’s more grounded, just a party worker,” she said “The rumour is that he used to be a tea vendor and rose through the ranks.”
When Modi finally walked on stage, clasped hands outstretched, the crowd outside the stadium applauded wildly and chanted his name.
Over the din, Nirav Trivedi, from Gujarat, the state Modi served as chief minister for 15 years, summed up the man’s appeal in a few words: “He’s a magician.”
“His work, his achievements, his dedication, his efforts. What he imagines, he does,” Trivedi said.
“The work that used to be done in 20 years, he can do in two years.”
Across the road from the stadium, under the eye of police on mounted horses, Gurpreet Badwal stood with a line of Sikh protesters carrying signs reading, “Stop the genocide”.
They carried graphic pictures of police abuses against Sikhs and the aftermath of genocides against Muslims and other minorities in 1982 in New Delhi and 2002 in Gujarat, when Modi was chief minister.
“This is something that’s been hyped up to show Modi as a rockstar,” Badwal shrugged. “He’s been six months in government, I don’t see anything he has done so far for the Indian population, or even for Gujarat, where he’s from. This reception, it’s all fake.”
He chalked Modi’s appeal up to media bias and an exhaustion with the formerly ruling Congress party. “He’s perceived as a hero because all the channels in India have been showing the good parts of the state. But the average person is still suffering,” he said.
NSW premier Mike Bairdand his predecessor Barry O’Farrell were among Australian dignitaries present on stage to welcome Modi. Cricketer Brett Lee also welcomed Modi to Australia.
