Tens of thousands gather at Melbourne Meets Modi event

Around 30,000 people poured into Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium to see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night, and the organisers of the Melbourne Meets Modi event said they expected millions more to watch online. The Indian leader’s visit to Australia has also prompted expressions of concern from human rights and anti-discrimination groups have raised concerns. Human Rights Watch Australia director Daniela Gavshon says the Modi government has stifled free speech and India has experienced a "very clear ... slide into authoritarianism" over the last decade. Alliance Against Islamophobia chair Waseem Razvi said the Indian government "seems to be very repressive against Muslims" and that there are concerns about growing Islamophobia in India. Read more: https://bit.ly/4wC7AUk