From PM Tony Abbott to businessman, Modi mania sweeps Australia

By PTI

Updated: Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 19:05 [IST]

Melbourne, Nov 19: From Prime Minister Tony Abbott to Victorian multicultural minister Matthew Guy, Australian politician have been left mesmerised by the reception Prime Minister Narendra Modi received in this country on his first visit.

Modi travelled four major cities - Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne -- on his five-day Australia visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 28 years.

Everywhere he went, the diaspora felt a sense of Modi mania and his trip continued to hog newspaper headlines.

Abbott acknowledged in his speeches that the country never saw any politician receiving such a reception.

"Never seen any leader as rapturously received in Australia as Prime Minister Modi," Abbott said in the Australian Parliament.

Guy, who flagged the 'Modi Express' in Melbourne, commented that he was rapt to see such frenzy for a politician.

Modi Frenzy follows him in Oz

At Sydney, over 16,000 people attended Modi's first and only public lecture which was organised by a specially created group Indian Australian Community Foundation.

The Australian newspaper said 'Beyond G20: Rolling coverage of Modi, XI, Hollande in Australia' dubbed him as 'Can-Do Narendra Modi'.

On the Sydney event, it noted that Modi bowled over the Sydney audience. Many other publications like 'The Age' website and ABC news channel ran live coverages on his Parliament speech.

Another piece 'The Age' described Modi turning Parliament house into a rockstar stage.

As an after effect of Modi, Melbourne University based Australia India Insitute announced a public lecture on 'ModiInOz - A Recap of PM Modi's Landmark Trip to Australia' which would be live streamed all around the world tomorrow.

Many politicians and cricket stars attended his events at Victoria and other cities. Steve Waugh, Glen Mcgrath attended his business event in Victoria.

In Sydney, Modi was greeted by Brett Lee. A Melbourne-based businessman who attended the MCG reception, said, "whereever he goes, Modi Frenzy follows him".

PTI