More than 20,000 people gathered at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on July 9, 2026, to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his third visit to Australia as PM. Modi praised India's booming technology sector and economy, declaring, "We are impatient, we are the fastest growing economy in the world," and expressed his aspiration for India to become one of the world's top three economies soon, stating, "our inspiration is to grow more, achieve more."
Modi described his visit as a "hat trick," reflecting the strengthening relationship between India and Australia. He said, "This shows at what heights the relationship between India and Australia is now," and emphasized that Australia is "not just a country that we trade with: it's a country that we trust."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also praised Australia's Indian diaspora during the event. Security was tight, with police dogs screening vehicles and officers managing the crowd, including separating protesters from supporters.
Waseem Razvi, chair of the Alliance Against Islamophobia, led a group of protesters aiming to raise awareness about Modi's alleged record on discrimination against Muslims. Among attendees was Sonali, 22, born in India but raised in Australia, who said she was excited to see Modi despite not having strong political opinions.
Notable Quotes
- "This is the India that grows more, achieves more. We are impatient, we are the fastest growing economy in the world," Modi said.
- "But we want to become one of the world's top three economies as soon as possible, because our inspiration is to grow more, achieve more."
- "This shows at what heights the relationship between India and Australia is now," he added.
- "Didn't you feel proud when India carried out such a decisive strike against terrorist camps?"
- Modi described Australia as "not just a country that we trade with: it's a country that we trust."
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