During his visit to Australia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognized a Sydney neighborhood with a sizable Indian population.
Locals pushed for the western Sydney neighborhood to be given a new name, and as the entrance to Harris Park, a Little India plaque has now been installed.
According to a statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, “the leaders unveiled a plaque for the foundation stone of a ‘Little India’ gateway for Harris Park in recognition of the important contributions of the Indian diaspora to Australia’s rich multicultural society.”
The plaque serves as a push for the Paramatta City Council to maybe make the name permanent this year even if it isn’t yet official.
According to the 2021 Census, 2,288 individuals, or 45.4% of Harris Park’s population, were born in India and 2,363 people, or 46.9%, are Hindus.
Fewer, but still significant, residents of the suburb are from Nepal.
Only 961 of the residents in Harris Park at the time the data was gathered were Australian-born.
Albanese and Modi committed to a new migration accord and a partnership on green hydrogen by signing papers this morning.
“The Australia-India relationship is already strong, but we both see potential for growth and an opportunity to shape a better future for our region,” said Albanese.
As Modi was accused of supporting violence against Muslims during the Gujarat riots in 2002 but ultimately cleared, protesters gathered outside Admiralty House.
More than 20,000 members of Australia’s Indian diaspora attended last night’s event, which Modi received at Homebush’s Qudos Bank Arena to a rock star greeting.
He announced the opening of a new center for Australia-India cooperation in Sydney’s west using the occasion.
