Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a grand welcome in Sydney with an Australian recreational aircraft writing ‘Welcome Modi’ all over the sky ahead of the community event scheduled on Tuesday. A big event is being organised at the Qudos Arena in Sydney Olympic Park for PM Modi to address the Indian diaspora. The prime minister arrived in Sydney on Monday 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 his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. Modi is scheduled to hold talks with with Albanese on Wednesday.
Soon after PM Modi’s arrival, the Australian government also renamed Harris Park as "Little India". The vibrant streets of Harris Park were decorated in shades of orange, white, and green to welcome the Indian prime minister.
Reacting to the changing of name of Harris Park, BJP leader Sudhanshu Trived stated: "The Australian government's announcement that Harris Park, a Sydney suburb, will now be known as 'Little India' is a reflection of respect for India and its growing status," PTI reported.
As per the Australian government's website, Harris Park has a significant population of Indians and is widely known as an exceptional spot for Indian gastronomy and Indian-run small and mid-sized enterprises.
As per the 2021 Census, the number of individuals born in India who currently reside in Australia exceeds 600,000. Approximately 45 percent of the population, which is around 5,000 residents, inhabit the suburb of Harris Park, SBS News reported.
Earlier today, Australian PM Anthony Albanese had said that he is looking forward to celebrating the country's vibrant Indian community with PM Modi. Recalling his visit to India earlier this year, Albanese said that he is honoured to welcome his Indian counterpart for an official visit.