The public occasions converse to Narendra Modi’s recognition amongst supporters – the adoring crowds waving banners, the automobile convoys and privately chartered “ModiAirways” flights for individuals who will journey hundreds of kilometres to listen to him converse.

But for a similar man, posters have sprung up round Sydney – earlier than being torn down – providing $10,000 for the citizen’s arrest of the “Hindu Terrorist Modi” and graffiti has been daubed on a Hindu temple in western Sydney studying: “Declare Modi Terrorist”.

The Indian prime minister will land in Australia this week as some of the highly effective leaders in his nation’s trendy historical past. But additionally considered one of its most divisive.

He leads an more and more polarised nation. India’s diasporas, too, are more and more cut up.

The Sydney broadcaster Manbir Singh Kohli, who hosts the weekly Kehte Sunte (Speaking & Listening) radio program, says: “In India, the schisms between communities are getting sharper.

“And unfortunately we are seeing that in Australia too, a polarisation of our communities is worse than it has ever been – the trolling, the division. Earlier, the Indian diaspora used to be proud together but now we are divided.”

India is now probably the most populous nation on Earth and demographics, correctly harnessed, are on its aspect: its financial system will surpass these of Germany and Japan within the subsequent half-decade to change into the third largest on the earth, behind the US and China.

Modi’s authorities claims its insurance policies – addressing meals safety, banking, pensions – have lifted tens of millions of India’s poorest from poverty.

But its chief, dominant as he approaches the top of his second time period as prime minister and poised to win a 3rd, is profoundly controversial.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata get together (BJP) authorities is accused of a repressive and intimidatory marketing campaign in opposition to political opponents – together with scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty Rahul Gandhi – unbiased media and civil society organisations.

Legislation such because the citizenship modification invoice has been criticised as unlawfully discriminating against Muslims, whereas the farm payments deregulating agricultural markets had been deserted solely after greater than a yr of fervent protests and a number of other hundred deaths.

Modi’s authorities is even accused of attempting to rewrite history to fit its Hindu nationalist agenda, with faculty textbooks edited to take away references to Mahatma Gandhi’s opposition to Hindu nationalism, to the nation’s Mughal historical past – the Muslim rulers who managed important components of India for hundreds of years – and to the 2002 anti-Muslim pogrom in Godhra, which claimed greater than 1,000 lives and wherein Modi, then chief minister of the state of Gujarat, was implicated.

Critics of Modi’s authorities argue he has sought, via the huge energy of his BJP, to reinvent the very thought of India: the pluralist, secular conception of India of Jawaharlal Nehru undermined and eroded, and changed by the BJP’s imaginative and prescient of a rustic dominated by its aggressive Hindu nationalism, with locations solely on the margins for India’s multiplicity of minorities.

Modi will converse at a boisterous public rally – a mixture of music, dance and politics at which greater than 20,000 individuals are anticipated – at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday, hosted by the Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation (IADF). Privately chartered flights – publicised as yatra, akin to pilgrimage – will convey supporters from interstate.

“He attracts this huge crowd for his exemplary and visionary leadership that is transforming and developing India at an unprecedented pace,” Jay Shah, director of the IADF, says.

“PM Modi is the most popular leader of India at the moment and has a great appeal and following, not just in India but also in many Indians living abroad.”

In 2014, Modi was the primary Indian prime minister to go to Australia since Rajiv Gandhi, through the premiership of Bob Hawke. Shah says Modi vowed on that journey Indian leaders would come extra repeatedly to Australia.

“He is keeping his promise and visiting again … This … reflects the speed at which the relationship is growing between our two countries.”

Of the criticism that adheres to Modi, Shah says it displays India’s sturdy democracy.

“We respect the fact that people can have different views.

“Mr Modi and his government contend that all policies are aimed at addressing specific challenges and ensuring safety and wellbeing of all citizens of India.”

‘Australia should speak frankly’

Kohli, nevertheless, argues Modi’s “abrasive” authorities has deserted democratic accountability to parliament or to the Indian folks.

“This government doesn’t answer to anybody on anything. There is no accountability, we have seen that in the Adani controversy [Modi’s close links to tycoon Gautam Adani] or over the farm bills.”

“Australia is seeking to strengthen its relationship with India,” Kohli says – economically, with a new free trade agreement in drive and the recognised potential of India’s rising market and rising center class; but additionally geo-strategically, in alliances such because the Quad serving as a counterpoint to China’s rising affect.

But Kohli says Australia ought to take a firmer line in its dealings with Modi’s authorities.

“Modi is a powerful leader. But if you’re a good friend of somebody you can also be critical politely,” he says. “Australia should speak frankly.”

The Indian Muslim Association of Australia has not deliberate any protests in opposition to Modi throughout his Australian go to. Public officer Sirajuddin Syed says the organisation respects the place of prime minister of India whereas rejecting the insurance policies of the person holding the workplace.

“India is home to more than 200 million Muslims, but under Narendra Modi’s government Indian Muslims have faced systemic discrimination, prejudice and violence despite constitutional protections.”

Dr Pradeep Taneja, educational fellow with the Australia India Institute, says Modi is seen by his most ardent followers as an nearly “messianic” chief, however by his detractors as a dangerously divisive determine “who has polarised Indian society along religious lines”.

“There is no doubt that some of the Modi government’s populist policies, such as increased cooking gas connections and other subsidies, have benefited people regardless of caste or religion,” Taneja says.

“But it is also true that Modi and other ruling party figures frequently engage in what can only be described as ‘dog-whistle politics’ targeting India’s largest minority. This is also reflected in the rewriting of Indian history, changing of place and street names across the country and the tolerance of violent acts against the minority community.”

The Quad assembly that was Modi’s main purpose for visiting Australia has been cancelled via the absence of the US president, Joe Biden. But Modi has chosen to return to Australia regardless, an additional signal that Australia and India’s “interests are much more aligned today than ever before in history”, Taneja says.

He agrees Australia has a “difficult line to walk” in its dealings with Modi’s authorities.

“The reality is that Australia and India need to work together to deal with the changed security situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

“So long as Modi is popularly elected by the Indian electorate, I don’t think Australia would gain anything by publicly criticising Indian government policies. Instead, Australia should communicate the message indirectly by emphasising its own views on human rights and respect for religious diversity.”