Australia fetes Modi as ‘the boss’

Australia offered Narendra Modi a rock-star welcome yesterday, lavishing praise on the Indian leader during a visit heavy on trade and light on criticism. Modi held a campaign-style rally at a 21,000-capacity Sydney arena yesterday, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese playing emcee. Lured by the world's most populous market and a counterweight to China's growing military, diplomatic and economic clout, Australia's government is layering on the charm. To chants of "Modi! Modi! Modi!" Albanese introduced his "dear friend" to a jazzed-up crowd of Indian-Australians, who he praised for making Australia "stronger and more inclusive". "The last time I saw someone on the stage here was Bruce Springsteen and he didn't get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got," Albanese said. "Prime Minister Modi is the boss!" he said, breaking into a broad smile and boasting the pair had met six times in the past year. It was an unusually personal show of support for Modi, a nationalist leader who faces re-election next year.