During a meeting of the Quad leaders in Tokyo yesterday, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came up with a peculiar challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both the leaders have claimed that they are facing requests from prominent citizens to attend events where PM Modi will speak.
PM Modi will interact with Australian CEOs, business leaders and interact with the Indian diaspora at a community event in Sydney on Tuesday. The PM will go on a state visit to the US in June at the invitation of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US leader will host PM Modi’s state dinner at the White House.
According to sources, PM Albanese has said that he is unable to fulfill all the requests he has received for tickets for the community reception in Sydney. The sold-out venue has a capacity of 20,000 people but the Australian PM said he was still getting requests for tickets.
Sources said PM Albanese recalled his visit to India this year when he was greeted by 90,000 people at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Presenting a similar problem in front of PM Modi, President Biden said, ‘I should take your autograph.’
“You’re causing a real problem for me. Next month we have a dinner for you in Washington. Everyone all over the country wants to come. My tickets are sold out. You think I’m kidding? Ask my team. I’m getting the call.” Calls from people I’ve never heard of before. Everyone from film stars to relatives. You are very popular,” President Biden was quoted as saying by the sources.