Melbourne, Jul 9:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted the strength of India’s defence prowess during Operation Sindoor, asserting that while the strikes destroyed terror hubs, the echoes were heard across the world.Addressing a community event in Australia during his ongoing three-day visit to the country, PM Modi said, “The world is witnessing the capability and credibility of India’s defence platforms. You must have seen a demonstration of this during ‘Operation Sindoor’. The explosions were taking place at terrorist hideouts, but their echoes were heard across the entire world. When such a decisive strike was carried out against terror camps, did you feel pride or not?”Operation Sindoor was India’s resolute response and reflected the zero-tolerance policy against terrorism in action, which came in response to the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.India successfully destroyed nine major terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), targeting Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen facilities, with over 100 terrorists were killed in action.PM Modi further said India’s rise as a manufacturing power has complemented its growing strategic strength, noting that the country’s products are now reaching markets across the globe.”Over the past 12 years, ‘Make in India’ has evolved into a global brand. Our mobile phones and electronics have reached markets across the globe. Our automobiles and pharmaceutical products have expanded their global footprint,” he said.He highlighted how India is now home to more than 200,000 registered start-ups and that more than 4,000 new start-ups are being registered every month in India.”These sectors were opened to private entrepreneurship only a few years ago, and today, India’s first private space start-up is set to launch a satellite on its own rocket very soon,” he said.PM Modi further shared snippets from India’s growth journey to the diaspora, highlighting key initiatives such as DigiLocker and the teleconsultation platform e-sanjeevani amongst other strides made in the last 12 years.Shortly after the community event, PM Modi termed it “electrifying” in a post on X. He thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for making the event more special and said on X, “The community programme in Melbourne was made even more special with the presence of PM Albanese. His speech was outstanding, reflecting his deep commitment to India-Australia friendship and the immense value he places on our partnership.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday lauded the Indian diaspora as the “living bridge” between Australia and India, saying the energy and enthusiasm witnessed at the community event welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Melbourne reflected the growing strength of the bilateral partnership between the two democracies.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day visit to Australia, which has seen major outcomes spanning defence, maritime security, energy, critical technologies, education, mining, research and cultural cooperation, significantly expanding the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India’s humanitarian assistance is guided by compassion rather than nationality, race or geography, asserting that the country does not differentiate on the basis of passports or the “colour of the passport” while extending help to those in need on the global stage.Addressing the Indian diaspora at the ‘Melbourne Meets Modi’ event as part of his three-day official visit to Australia, the Prime Minister said India’s growing capabilities are being used for the benefit of humanity, adding that this approach has strengthened the world’s trust in the country.”When India extends a helping hand, it does not look at passports; when India sends aid, it does not look at the colour of the passport. That is why the world places such great trust in India,” PM Modi said.Highlighting India’s role as a first responder during humanitarian crises in the world, the Prime Minister said the country’s increasing strength has enabled it to support nations affected by natural disasters and other emergencies across the world.”As India’s strength grows, all of humanity benefits,” he said.Citing recent examples, PM Modi said India responded swiftly to the massive humanitarian crisis following the devastating twin earthquakes of over 7 magnitude in Venezuela by deploying relief material, rescue personnel and medical teams. at least 3,535 lives, left over 16,700 injured, and triggered a massive humanitarian crisis.”Just last month, Venezuela faced a massive earthquake tragedy. We did not look at the distance; instead, we viewed Venezuela’s suffering as our own. India launched relief and rescue operations, sending aid and experts as swiftly as possible. Our medical teams swung into action immediately. It gives me great satisfaction that many lives were saved,” he said.India, last month, launched ‘Operation Amistad’ as a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission in a gesture of solidarity with the people of Venezuela following the devastating twin earthquakes that resulted in significant loss of life, injuries and widespread destruction.As part of the mission, a 41-member Indian contingent comprising experienced rescue personnel and medical professionals has been deployed to work alongside Venezuelan authorities in search and rescue operations, emergency medical care and humanitarian relief efforts in the affected regions.The contingent also carried approximately six tonnes of medical stores and humanitarian relief supplies provided by the MEA and, in addition, transported a BHISHM Cube (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita & Maitri) under India’s Aarogya Maitri Project.The BHISHM Cube is an indigenous, rapidly deployable, modular medical facility designed for disaster and humanitarian response. The system comprises compact, self-contained medical modules that can be quickly assembled into a fully functional field hospital, capable of treating up to 200 patients.The Prime Minister also referred to India’s humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria, saying New Delhi acted promptly by dispatching relief and rescue teams to the affected regions.He further highlighted India’s disaster relief operations in neighbouring countries, noting that New Delhi carried out “Operation Brahma” in Myanmar last year following a devastating earthquake and launched “Operation Sagar Bandhu” after a cyclone struck Sri Lanka.”When earthquakes struck Turkiye and Syria, India rapidly dispatched relief and rescue assistance. There are many such examples. Last year, we conducted ‘Operation Brahma’ in Myanmar, and when a cyclone devastated Sri Lanka, we launched ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’,” the Prime Minister stated.PM Modi said these initiatives reflect India’s commitment to standing with the global community during times of crisis, reinforcing the country’s image as a trusted and responsible humanitarian partner.The Prime Minister’s remarks come as he addresses around 30,000 people at the event, which is perhaps the largest such event to ever happen in Australia by any leader.Ahead of his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a high-level summit with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne, marking a significant expansion of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).The visit from July 8 to July 10 culminated in 18 major outcomes spanning defence, maritime security, energy, critical technologies, education, mining, research and cultural cooperation, significantly expanding the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
