Organisers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Melbourne community reception have demanded a public apology from Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, rejecting allegations that attendees were paid to fill the venue.
The dispute followed the July 9 “Melbourne Meets Modi” programme at Marvel Stadium, where tens of thousands of people gathered during Modi’s three-day official visit to Australia. The organisers said participants attended voluntarily and accused Congress figures of insulting the country’s large diaspora community by questioning the authenticity of the turnout.
An open letter addressed to Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Congress president Kharge called for the allegation to be withdrawn. It said attendees had spent their own money and time travelling to Melbourne, with some making journeys from other Australian cities.
The controversy centred partly on a chartered flight from Sydney to Melbourne, promoted as “Modi Airways”, which transported supporters to the programme. Organisers involved in coordinating the service said passengers paid for their tickets and that neither the Bharatiya Janata Party nor the Union government financed the travel.
They maintained that the charter was a community-led initiative designed to help people attend an event for which demand exceeded the available invitations. Registrations for the programme were free, although people travelling from outside Melbourne bore their transport and accommodation expenses.
Congress representatives had questioned the scale and financing of the mobilisation, describing the gathering as manufactured and suggesting that supporters were transported to the venue with political or public funding. No documentary evidence establishing that attendees were paid to participate has been made public.
The organisers said political criticism of Modi was legitimate but argued that extending such criticism to members of the diaspora was unfair. Their letter described the allegation as damaging to volunteers who had spent weeks organising transport, cultural performances and logistical support.
Attendance estimates varied across reports and official accounts, ranging from about 25,000 to 40,000. Marvel Stadium has a capacity of more than 50,000, depending on seating arrangements. The programme featured cultural performances and speeches by Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.
Albanese used the gathering to highlight the economic and social contribution of people of Indian origin in Australia. Modi praised the diaspora as an important link between the two countries and presented the event as evidence of growing public support for closer bilateral relations.
The reception formed one part of a broader diplomatic visit from July 8 to 10. Modi and Albanese held the third India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne, where discussions covered defence cooperation, critical minerals, clean energy, education, technology and regional security.
The two sides also advanced arrangements connected with uranium supplies for India’s civil nuclear energy programme and expanded cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Business leaders attended meetings aimed at encouraging investment in infrastructure, digital technology, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.
Modi and Albanese visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground and unveiled a sports cooperation roadmap. Australia also expressed support for India’s campaign to host the 2036 Olympic Games, adding sport to a diplomatic relationship already shaped by trade, migration and strategic cooperation.
The visit drew protests alongside the large welcoming crowds. Sikh groups, Muslim organisations, human rights campaigners and other demonstrators criticised the Modi government’s record on minority rights and civil liberties. Australian authorities deployed extensive security around official venues and the community reception.
The competing demonstrations reflected divisions within Australia’s diverse South Asian population. Modi retains strong support among many members of the diaspora, while critics argue that community spectacles should not prevent scrutiny of his government’s policies.
Australia has one of the world’s fastest-growing populations of people with Indian ancestry. More than one million residents identify as having Indian heritage, giving the community increasing economic and electoral influence. Victoria alone has more than 370,000 residents of Indian descent.
