Modi eyes 'historic' chance to secure Australian uranium

Australia has a historic chance to supply the uranium that could power India's nuclear energy transformation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday in Melbourne.

Modi made the remarks at a business forum ahead of high-level talks with Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, as India looks to scale up nuclear power generation to meet surging electricity demand.

Why does India want Australian uranium?

India wants to accelerate its shift to nuclear energy and needs a steady uranium supply to do it. Australia holds close to 28 percent of the world's uranium reserves, making it a natural partner despite past legal and political hurdles. Modi called this a historic opportunity to deepen cooperation in the sector.

"Australia's huge uranium reserves are directly connected to India's nuclear journey," Modi told the business forum. "This is a historic opportunity for us to increase our cooperation in this area."

Albanese grinned as the two leaders briefly paused during the event to take a selfie. He has previously nicknamed Modi "The Boss," joking that the Indian leader could draw bigger crowds than rock icon Bruce Springsteen.

Albanese credited Modi's leadership for the strengthened ties between the two countries. "Prime Minister Modi, your leadership and your personal engagement with Australia has been absolutely central to this change," he said Thursday.

How large is Australia's Indian diaspora?

Australia's Indian population has grown sharply over the past decade, giving Modi a substantial support base in the country. For the first time on record, India became the largest source of overseas-born residents in Australia, according to figures released in June.

"In 2014, the Indian diaspora community in Australia was relatively small," said Teesta Prakash of the Australia India Institute. She noted the community has since overtaken Britain's as the country's largest diaspora group, calling it a significant demographic shift.

Modi is expected to draw a large crowd at a community rally in Melbourne later Thursday. Organizers anticipate more than 20,000 people will attend the stadium event.

Why is Modi's Australia visit controversial?

Not everyone is welcoming the visit. Critics accuse Modi of fostering Hindu nationalism in India, and opposition groups are planning demonstrations to coincide with his appearance.

Australia's Alliance Against Islamophobia said it would protest outside the stadium, pointing to what it described as the treatment of minority groups in India. A separate protest against Indian migration to Australia is also planned for the same day.

Modi is scheduled to travel to New Zealand once his engagements in Australia conclude.