Describing India as a “longstanding friend” of Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday sent a special message of trust, respect and friendship to Indians across the world ahead of the country’s 74th Independence Day.
Morrison said the “deep friendship” between Australia and India was about more than trade and diplomacy. “Founded on Bharosa (trust) and Samman (respect) – it is a friendship with depth, and marked by democracy, defence cooperation, diaspora and Dosti (friendship). Australia joins wholeheartedly in its celebration of independence and extends our warm congratulations to the people of India, ” the prime minister said.
Referring to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the prime minister said that while this year’s celebrations will look different and many of the traditional gatherings would not take place, the two sides can draw strength from their shared values.
“As I said during the visit to Australia of President Kovind: Our cultures might be different, but we believe in similar things. We believe in the supremacy of the ballot-box in our national life; in the rule of law; in institutions that safeguard rights; and the responsibility of free people to build a better world,” Morrison said in a statement.
“It is because of our shared values, interests, and objectives that Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and I announced the historic elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June this year,” he said.
Albanese said that while the celebrations this year were different than traditional ones, sentiments were the same. “Seventy-three years later, India still stands tall as the world’s biggest democracy and as a remarkable, vibrant and diverse country,” he said while referring to the famous first speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ by the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
