During a meeting of Quad leaders in Tokyo, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese approached Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an interesting challenge. Both leaders revealed that they were inundated with requests from prominent citizens to attend events where PM Modi would be speaking.
PM Modi is scheduled to interact with Australian CEOs, business leaders, and Indian ex-pats at a community event in Sydney on Tuesday. In June, he will undertake a state visit to the US, following an invitation from President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. During his visit, PM Modi will be hosted by the US leaders for a state dinner at the White House.
Sources suggest that PM Albanese expressed his inability to accommodate all the ticket requests he received for the community reception in Sydney. Despite the venue having a capacity of 20,000 people and being sold out, PM Albanese mentioned that he was still receiving ticket requests. He recalled his visit to India earlier this year, where he was welcomed by 90,000 people at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
President Biden echoed a similar sentiment, stating, “I should take your autograph.” He humorously added, “You are causing me a real problem. Next month, we have a dinner for you in Washington. Everyone in the whole country wants to come. I have run out of tickets. Do you think I am kidding? Ask my team. I am getting phone calls from people I have never heard of before. Everyone from movie stars to relatives. You are too popular.”
President Biden further praised PM Modi’s impact on various global issues, including the QUAD initiative, climate change, and the Indo-Pacific region. He acknowledged the prime minister’s influence and the difference he was making.
PM Modi is set to arrive in Papua New Guinea, where he will be greeted by Prime Minister James Marape at the airport. Typically, Papua New Guinea does not hold ceremonial welcomes for leaders arriving after sunset, but a notable exception has been made for PM Modi.
The prime minister’s visit to Papua New Guinea aims to expand India’s outreach to Pacific Island nations. The Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit, scheduled for tomorrow in Port Moresby, will bring together leaders from 14 countries to discuss common interests and issues.
PM Modi has often used his foreign visits to promote Indian culture and values. During his trip to Japan, he unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima. In Papua New Guinea, he is expected to release the Thirukkural, a classic Tamil text, translated into the local language Tok Pisin.
Additionally, during PM Modi’s visit to Australia, the Harris Park area in Sydney’s Parramatta suburb will be officially designated as “Little India.” This move further signifies the importance of the visit and the strengthening of ties between India and Australia.
