The ‘Melbourne Meets Modi’ event organizers have penned an open letter to Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, refuting claims that the Indian-Australian attendees were a “paid crowd” funded by the BJP or Indian government. Over 30,000 people gathered at Marvel Stadium before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address, marking one of Australia’s largest gatherings for a world leader. The event, resonating with chants of “Modi, Modi” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” showcased the genuine enthusiasm of the Indian diaspora.
The organizers dismissed the allegations as baseless and offensive, emphasizing that the event was a result of voluntary community efforts, not political funding. They urged the Congress leadership to retract the claims and apologize to the Indian-Australian community. The arrangements, including the “Modi Airways” initiative for domestic travel, were community-driven efforts, with attendees either covering their own expenses or utilizing community-supported travel options.
Rejecting the notion of a politically financed crowd, the organizers highlighted the diverse backgrounds of attendees, emphasizing their independent choices to participate in the significant community event. They stressed that the Indian diaspora in Australia is not a political tool and does not require direction from Indian political parties. The event aimed to strengthen the Australia-India partnership and acknowledge the Indian community’s contributions to Australian society.
The organizers noted that attendees had various motivations for joining the event, from admiration for PM Modi to celebrating the friendship between Australia and India. They defended the right of the Indian diaspora to participate in events without political influence, urging respect for their political diversity. The organizers called for a public acknowledgment from the Congress party that the allegations were unfounded and an apology to the community for questioning their integrity unfairly.
