Prime Minister Narendra Modi highly praised the contribution of Indians living abroad on Thursday, calling them 'sugar in milk' because their presence makes the host land more pleasant.
Address to the Diaspora in Melbourne
Speaking before assembled representatives of the diaspora at a public event in Melbourne, in the presence of his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, Modi noted that Indians have enriched the city with their culture. He added that while maintaining ties with their roots, they are also tirelessly working to develop the country where they live.
Modi emphasized: 'Just as sugar melts in milk and makes it sweeter, we Indians fill the world with the color of love.'
Military Achievements and Economic Development
The audience reacted positively to Modi's remarks about 'Operation Sindhur'. Following the deal to sell BrahMos missiles to Indonesia, he stated that the world is observing India's defense platforms' capabilities and reliability. He noted: 'You must have seen the demonstration during Operation Sindhur. Explosions occurred in terrorist shelters, but their echoes were heard around the world. You must have been proud of the strikes against terrorist camps.'
Highlighting that India sets ambitious goals, Modi stated that the country is driven by the aspiration to 'become bigger, achieve more'. He added: 'From microchips to ships, new production ecosystems are being created in India.'
Aid Policy and International Recognition
The Prime Minister announced that a rising India benefits all of humanity, as its policies and actions are guided by the principle of 'happiness for all'. In this context, he mentioned India's aid to Venezuela after the earthquakes. Modi also added that similar support was provided to countries such as Turkey, Syria, and Myanmar. He concluded: 'When India helps, it does not look at the color of the passport. That is why the world trusts India so much.'
The event took place against the backdrop of celebrations within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) circles regarding Australia's reversal of its refusal to sell uranium to India in 2010. Amit Malviya, the party's IT head, posted a comment on X: 'What has changed?', which was apparently addressed to the Congress.