PM Modi 'overwhelmed, honoured and humbled' to be in Sydney

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that he was 'overwhelmed, honoured and humbled' to be in Sydney, adding that he hoped that the love for him by the Indian community persists.

Prime Minister Modi took to twitter to express his feelings.

"Overwhelmed, honoured and humbled. Will never forget this day," he wrote, posting a photograph of a packed Allphones Areana, where he addressed an adoring crowd.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister had professed great delight in seeing the number of people who had come to hear him speak.

"You have taken a special train to come here. Looking at the crowd here, can anyone imagine that today is a working day? I hope that your love for me continues because I assure you, I am afraid of hard work," he said.

Announcing the opening of a much-awaited cultural centre at the Indian embassy in Sydney, Prime Minister Modi also announced the start of a visa on arrival system for Australian citizens.

"I have given instructions that I want the cultural centre at the Embassy in Sydney to have started by February. I also want to boost tourism in India, so I have decided to start the system of visa on arrival for citizens of Australia," he said.

Prime Minister Modi also told the assembled his great love of getting rid of obsolete laws, adding that in India, instead of helping society, many laws were hindering it.

"A country is not made by governments or political parties - it is made by the people. And if we give the people of the country the facilities to fulfil their potential, then the country can be great. Previous governments used to love making new laws - I like to finish them off. I feel that many laws have held us back," he said.

"All of us have to work have to work together to develop the country. India has given a lot to us - we must also give something back," he added.

Prime Minister Modi, currently in Australia, began bilateral talks with leaders of that nation. After visiting Brisbane and Sydney, he is scheduled to travel to Canberra and Melbourne, before departing for Fiji for the third leg of his three-nation, 10 day trip.