The World Punjabi Organisation, led by international president Vikramjit Singh Sahney, backed the Indian diaspora’s involvement in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s significant trip to Australia and New Zealand. Sahney facilitated extensive media coverage, including advertorials in The Herald Sun and special supplements in The New Zealand Herald, emphasizing the visit and the deepening India-Australia and India-New Zealand partnerships.
Rajya Sabha member Sahney highlighted that PM Modi’s visit bolstered India’s connection with its dynamic diaspora and enhanced strategic collaboration in trade, investment, technology, and critical minerals, paving the way for enhanced economic cooperation and people-to-people interaction. The WPO expressed its commitment to fortifying India’s enduring bonds with the global Punjabi diaspora.
Australia is home to over 1.3 lakh individuals of Punjabi descent, while New Zealand boasts a thriving Punjabi community contributing significantly to both nations’ economic, cultural, and social progress. A key moment of the visit was the Melbourne Meets Modi event at Marvel Stadium, where around 30,000 Indian diaspora members gathered for a grand celebration attended by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.
In New Zealand, the Kia Ora Modi community reception at Spark Arena in Auckland saw a strong turnout from the Indian community in the presence of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, reaffirming the robust people-to-people connections between the two countries. Local WPO chapters, under the leadership of J.S. Uppal and Kamaljeet Bakshi, played a crucial role in organizing these events alongside community volunteers.
