Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Australia was marked not only by a host of agreements aimed at deepening strategic ties, but also by a series of statements that mixed diplomacy. During the visit, Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced 18 outcomes in the areas of defence, clean energy, critical minerals, maritime security, education and technology.
From describing the Indian diaspora as “sugar in milk” to comparing Indo-Australian ties to cricket and invoking the popular Hindi term “Ek aur ek gyarah”, Modi used colorful analogies to promote the growing partnership between the two countries.
Here are some of his quotes:
- In his speech to a crowd of the Indian community in Melbourne, Modi likened the Indian community to sugar that sweetens milk wherever he goes. “We Indians are like sugar in milk, they make it sweeter. Wherever we go, we spread love and goodwill. The milk in your homes may be Australian, but the tea is Indian.”
- During the delegation-level talks, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted that the India-Australia partnership makes “one plus one equals two.” Modi responded using popular Hindi language. “Ek ke Bagal mein ek do nahi ho raha, ek ke Bagal mein gyarah ho raha hai.” (When one stands next to the other, they do not become two, but eleven.)
- Highlighting India’s humanitarian outreach, Modi said that New Delhi’s assistance is guided by humanity and not nationality. “When India extends a helping hand, it does not look at the passports; when India sends aid, it does not look at the color of the passport. That is why the world places such great trust in India.”
- Speaking about India’s growing defense sector, the Prime Minister said the recent military operations have demonstrated the country’s capabilities on the global stage. “The world is witnessing the capacity and credibility of our defense sector. You must have seen the demonstration in Operation Sindoor. Explosions were taking place in terrorist hideouts, and their repercussions were reverberating around the world.”
- Emphasizing India’s technological progress, Modi said the country has emerged as a world leader in telecommunications. “Today, India is the second largest 5G market in the world. India is rapidly working on ‘Made in India’ 6G technology.”
- In one of his lighter moments, Modi used cricket to describe the evolving relationship between the two countries. “Since we are here in Melbourne, the sports capital of the world, not talking about sports would be like not starting a cricket match after the draw,” he added. He went on to compare bilateral cooperation to different formats of the game. “Cricket is the diplomatic language of India-Australia relations. That is why our meetings are also cricket-like: the agenda is as focused as a one-day match, decisions are as quick as a T20, and the partnership is as long and deep as a Test match.”
Read also: Prime Minister Modi talks about Operation Sindoor in Australia: “Explosions hit terror camps, and their reverberations were heard around the world”
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The two leaders held delegation-level talks as part of the annual Australia-India Leaders’ Summit, to review progress made in bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, defence, critical minerals, education and people-to-people relations.
“Australia’s true friend”
Earlier in the day, Albanese described Prime Minister Modi as a “true friend of Australia” while addressing thousands of members of the Indian diaspora at a community event in Melbourne.
“As a true friend of Australia and a very dear friend of mine, I am honored to host you this evening,” Albanese said, adding that the energy inside the packed venue reflected the strength of the Australia-India partnership.
“The energy we feel here tonight defines the Australia-India partnership. It is an enthusiasm and dynamism that drives positivity and promise for our two nations and our peoples,” he said.
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Describing the Indian community as a “living bridge” between the two countries, Albanese said the community’s contribution played a major role in deepening bilateral relations.
The Australian Prime Minister also fondly recalled his visit to India three years ago, when Modi hosted him in Ahmedabad.
“When Prime Minister Modi hosted me three years ago, we toured the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad by rickshaw. That was an experience I will never forget,” Albanese said, adding that the warmth he experienced in Gujarat was evident again at Thursday’s meeting in Melbourne.
Noting that this is his third visit to Australia in 12 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that relations between India and Australia have reached great heights and the Indian community has played a major role in this.
(With inputs from PTI)
