Tens of thousands of members of the Australian-Indian community have descended on Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium for visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Mr Modi, whose two-day visit to Australia included a leaders’ summit with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will take centre stage later on Thursday night for a special event that was reportedly sold out “faster than a Taylor Swift concert”.Several colourful cultural performances entertained guests as the crowd chanted “India India”, “Aussie Aussie” and “Modi Modi” while they waited for Prime Minister Modi to arrive.”Guests giddy with anticipation were waving their phone lights in the air, excited about the nearing arrival of Mr Modi.Cheers erupted through the crowd as a feature film on India played. Prime Minister Modi is expected to walk down a long red carpet to the central of Marvel Stadium about 7.45pm, as a heavy security presence guards the stage and perimeter of the entire audienceUp to 40,000 people are expected to attend, mirroring a similar “rock star” event in Sydney three years ago.But several groups of anti-Modi protests held their own rallies outside Marvel Stadium before the ‘Melbourne Meets Modi’ community event, which will include Mr Albanese.Protesters surround Marvel StadiumThe Socialist Alliance held signs that said “Stop Modi’s human rights abuses”, and chanted “out Modi out”, while Sikh protesters – who accuse Mr Modi of persecuting their religion – were also protesting.Right influencer Hugo Lennon, who gatecrashed Indian Mr Modi’s hotel on Wednesday, stood holding Australian flags and anti-immigration banners opposite the entrance, the Herald-Sun reported.Signs including “Modi Go Home and take the rest with you” were seen with protesters also waving the Australian flag as Indian community members entered the outside the stadium.Dozens of police were on hand to keep protesters under control.Mr Modi is extremely popular with many members of the Indian diaspora, but internationally he has been criticised for discrimination against minorities, particularly Muslims.Dozens of anti-Modi Indian protesters demonstrated calling out Mr Modi on human rights issues, including supporters of the Khalistan movement, which advocates for an independent homeland for Sikhs in India.They also protested at an earlier event with the two prime minister on Thursday.Mr Modi arrived in Australia on Wednesday night and spent the day with Mr Albanese and business groups. Major deals agreed to earlierMr Albanese and Mr Modi on Thursday agreed to deepen defence ties in pursuit of “an open, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific”.The agreement pledged both countries “to consult on defence related developments in the Indo-Pacific that affect shared interests”, mirroring a similar pact with Japan, as first reported by NewsWire.“The Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation demonstrates our growing strategic alignment and articulates our shared vision for the region.”The talks came just days after China fired a nuclear capable missile into the South Pacific.They also struck a deal to allow for billions of dollars worth of Australian uranium exports to India.“The arrangement facilitates Australian uranium exports to India to help increase the share of non-fossil fuel power capacity, providing an additional market for the Australian resources sector,” Mr Albanese said.More to comeRead related topics:Melbourne