MELBOURNE: Organizers of the Melbourne Meets Modi community reception in Australia have sent an open letter to opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. They demand a public retraction and apology for claims that thousands of attendees at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Melbourne event formed a paid crowd funded by the BJP or the Indian government.
The organizers called the allegations entirely false, deeply disrespectful, and insulting to the Indian-Australian community. They said the remarks undermined the voluntary efforts of people who traveled across Australia for what they described as a historic celebration.
The controversy stems from remarks by Congress leader Pawan Khera questioning the event’s scale and suggesting attendees arrived on chartered flights funded by political sources. Organizers denied the claims, stating no political party or government paid for participation.
The July 9 event at Marvel Stadium drew over 30,000 people, one of the largest gatherings for any world leader in Australia. Chants of Modi, Modi and Bharat Mata ki Jai filled the venue as members of the Indian diaspora welcomed the prime minister.
In the letter, organizers told Gandhi and Kharge they were disappointed by statements from Congress figures alleging the attendees were a paid crowd funded by the BJP or Indian government. They called these claims false and insulting to the community.
Organizers said the Modi Airways initiative was a volunteer effort to coordinate travel from cities including Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane. It received no funding from the BJP, Indian government or Australian government. Participants covered their own travel, accommodation and expenses or used community-supported arrangements.
Organizer Amit Karanth told media that no money was spent to bring people to Melbourne. Attendees traveled voluntarily, took leave from work and paid their own costs. He said calling the event a paid crowd was incorrect.
The letter argued that labeling the gathering manufactured or rented questioned the integrity of thousands of Indian-Australians who chose to attend independently. It noted the diverse group included Australian citizens, permanent residents, professionals, students, families and senior citizens.
Organizers stressed the Indian-Australian community is politically diverse, with some supporting Congress, some the BJP, others different parties and many with no affiliation. They said this independence deserves respect.
