By Jai Bharadwaj, Amit Sarwal and Pallavi Jain
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about Hindu temples being vandalised in Australia in a joint Press statement with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in New Delhi today. PM Modi said that reports of Hindu temples being attacked in Australia are distressing and a cause for concern.
He said that he has discussed this issue with Prime Minister Albanese who has assured him that the safety of Indian Australians is a priority for him. PM Modi said that teams between the two countries will be in constant touch and cooperate to address this concern.
“There are regular reports of temples being vandalised in Australia. It is natural that such incidents raise concerns among Indians. Shared our sentiments with PM Albanese. I was assured that the safety of Indians is a priority for him. Our teams are in touch and cooperate with each other.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, on Friday, met at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi to hold bilateral talks. The two Prime Ministers spoke about the deep bilateral ties between the two countries including the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) and the signing of the Australia-India Education Qualification Recognition Mechanism. There were MoUs signed between the two countries in areas of sports and innovation as well.
Prime Minister Modi said,
“Our bilateral relations are important for global good. I told PM Albanese of India’s priorities as chair of G20. I thank PM Albanese for inviting me for the Quad leaders’ summit in May. I
n September, I will have the opportunity to welcome him again for the G20 summit.”
PM Albanese on Friday also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The EAM said Albanese’s visit and today’s annual summit will take India-Australia ties to a higher level. “Delighted to call on Prime Minister @AlboMP of Australia this morning. His visit and today’s Annual Summit will take our ties to a higher level,” Jaishankar tweeted on Friday.
Australian PM Albanese on Wednesday arrived in Ahmedabad on a state visit to India. The Australian Prime Minister who is on an official visit to India from March 8-11, was welcomed by the Gujarat Chief Minister Patel.
Albanese paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on Friday. Albanese was accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today. Prime Minister Modi welcomed his Australian counterpart at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The Australian PM inspected a Guard of Honour.
Addressing a press conference after a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi, the Australian PM thanked PM Narendra Modi for a very warm welcome in India and said that the two countries are partners and building that partnership even stronger each and every day.
“I thank PM Modi, for a very extraordinarily, generously and warm welcome here. Australia and India are great friends. We are partners and we are building that partnership even stronger each and every day,” said Australian PM Albanese.
“I led a delegation here of significant business leaders as well. We want to cooperate with India and build a relationship in culture, economic relations as well as in the area of security,” he said.
Albanese further said that both countries are cooperating to make a better world as the cricket teams of both countries are competing to be the best in the world.
We are competing on the cricket field to be the world’s best but together we are building a better world,” the Australian PM said