India’s prime minister chided Anthony Albanese over hate anti-Hindu hate speech in Melbourne
India’s prime minister chided Anthony Albanese over anti-Hindu hate speech across Australia in a rare public putdown during a joint appearance.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chided Anthony Albanese in public about recent attacks on Hindu temples in Melbourne at their only joint press conference in India.
The sour note from the Indian PM over the attacks which in recent weeks have seen anti-Hindu graffiti daubed on the temples by suspected Sikh separatists, was delivered as the two men stood side-by-side in the joint press statement at the end of the annual Australia-India Leadership dialogue.
Mr Modi said he had raised the attacks on the temples with Mr Albanese in their one-on-one meeting describing them as “worrying and distressing”.
“I have conveyed our concern to PM Albanese and he has assured me that the safety and wellbeing of the Indian community in Australia is a priority for them. Our teams will be in touch regarding this and co-operate as much as possible with each other,” Mr Modi said.
The decision by Mr Modi to raise the issue publicly follows background briefings to journalists from Indian officials in Australia concerned about the recent rise in activities by Sikh separatists seeking an independent state of Khalistan.
Senior Indian government officials are also understood to have raised the issue with the Albanese Government and warned Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Home Affairs Minister Claire O’Neil about the activities of pro-Khalistan terrorist groups in India.
They are understood to have been concerned by the decision of the Socialist Left faction of the ALP in Victoria to employ a prominent member of the local campaign to Khalistani state who The Australian newspaper has alleged carried a Khalistan flag at a major Indian event in November.
India has long accused Khalistani separatists of terrorist actions against Indian assets around the world including the downing of an Air India plane in 1985 that killed 329 people.
Australian sources familiar with Mr Albanese’s meeting with Mr Modi said the Indian PM had raised his government’s concerns about the Khalistan movement in a number of western countries.
The PM is understood to have affirmed Australia’s commitment to free speech but sought to reassure him of Australia’s commitment to deal with any incidents of violence or hate speech in Australia.
The temple issue was the only jarring note in an otherwise harmonious three day trip to India by the PM which wraps up tomorrow morning when he flies to the United States for the AUKUS subs announcement.
During the trip, the two governments made agreements on closer co-operation on sport, solar energy science and the film industries of the two countries.
But there was no agreement on deepening the security co-operation between the two countries despite hopes ahead of the trip there would be an announcement in that space.
At the press conference, Mr Albanese said hoped the next stage of Australia’s mooted free trade agreement with India would be concluded by the end of the year.
“This transformational deal will realise the full potential of the bilateral economic relationship creating new employment opportunities and raising living standards for the people of Australia and India,” Mr Albanese said.
Under the film agreement reached between Trade Minister Don Farrell and the Indian Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Bollywood movies could be made in Australia.
Incentives include to lure productions to Australia include government grants, loans and tax offsets.
Arts Minister Tony Burke who is proud to call himself a long-time Bollywood fan said benefits to the Australian screen industry would provide a pathway for our local industry to access international markets and audiences.
“As a long-time Bollywood fan, I’m particularly excited for this agreement. India is a global powerhouse when it comes to film.”
“Bringing a slice of Bollywood to Brisbane, while showcasing Melbourne to Mumbai is good news for the Australian screen industry.”
The revelation the PM wants the Australia-India free trade deal agreed in principle by the end of the year was something of a surprise.
Last year the Morrison government signed an interim trade agreement which came into effect in December.
The treaty was the product of several years of fraught negotiation and the final agreement was thought to be some years away.
But the PM said that he hoped negotiations “will move very quickly”.
“I would like to see the comprehensive agreement agreed in principle at least by the end of this year and it is something that I’m pursuing,” he said.
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