Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday described India as “a country we trust” and highlighted the growing importance of the Indian community in the Australian state, saying people of Indian origin are an integral part of Victoria’s identity.
“PM Modi, I would like you to take a message back to India. The state of Victoria respects India. We welcome your people..I say this to our strong Indian community. Your children never have to choose between being proudly Indian and proudly Victorian,” says Victoria’s premier pic.twitter.com/Mv8P8Vdbza
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Addressing a large Indian diaspora gathering attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Australia, Allan said Victoria deeply values its relationship with India and welcomes Indian students, businesses, families and ideas.
“Mr Modi, I do invite you to take this message back home with you to India. Victoria respects India. We value your people. We welcome your students, your businesses, your families, your ideas. In Victoria, the Indian community is not just accepted, they are part of who we are,” Allan said.
Emphasising the strength of ties between Victoria and India, the Premier said the relationship extends beyond trade and economic cooperation.
“India is not just a country we trade with, it is a country we trust,” she said.
In a message directed at the Indian diaspora, Allan said members of the community could embrace both their Indian heritage and their Victorian identity without compromise.
“Let me say this to Victoria’s great, strong Indian community who are here tonight. You are welcome here. Your children never have to choose between being proudly Indian and proudly Victorian. Because in this state, you can be both,” she said.
“Here in Victoria, you can be whoever you want to be, yet stay who you are,” Allan added.
Welcoming PM Modi to Melbourne, Allan thanked him for visiting Victoria and also acknowledged Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s role in strengthening ties between the two countries.
“Prime Minister Modi, thank you. Thank you for honouring Melbourne and Victoria with your visit. Prime Minister Albanese, thank you for your leadership, which has strengthened Australia’s relationship with the world’s biggest democracy,” she said.
Her remarks came during a high-profile community event attended by the two Prime Ministers and thousands of members of the Indian diaspora, underscoring the growing role of people-to-people ties in the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Ahead of the event, PM Modi interacted with members of the Indian community in Australia. Organisers estimated that around 30,000 people gathered for the programme, making it one of the largest Indian diaspora events ever hosted in Australia by a visiting world leader.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi and PM Albanese held a bilateral summit in Melbourne, resulting in 18 major outcomes across defence, maritime security, energy, critical technologies, education, mining, research and cultural cooperation.
The agreements further expanded the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reflected the deepening strategic, economic and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
With inputs from agencies
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