Indian flag Opera House outrage: Narendra Modi visit celebrated, King Charles coronation ‘forgotten’

Monarchists are outraged that the Opera House was decorated with the Indian flag to honor Narendra Modi’s visit, but was left blank for King Charles’ coronation.

The sails of Sydney’s iconic harborside location were lit up with the colors of the Indian flag on Wednesday night.

Prime Minister Anothony Albanese was pictured grinning as he gave the peace sign alongside Mr Mordi during a photo shoot during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Australia.

Critics have questioned why the federal government was unwilling to similarly celebrate the occasion of King Charles’s recent coronation on May 6.

“Can for India’s PM, can’t for our own King,” commentator Michael Smith wrote on Twitter.

Australian lawyer and failed Liberal candidate Katherine Deves was furious at the apparent double standards.

“Labour-Greens will take every opportunity to undermine and devalue our prosperous, stable, successful constitutional monarchy,” she wrote.

Another Twitter user accused Mr Albanese of using his office as his ‘own private toy’.

“Too expensive to light up for the coronation, but I’m happy to do it for another photo session with the Indian Prime Minister,” furious.

The Opera House sails remained dark during the coronation, despite several other landmarks around the country being lit in purple for the occasion.

After Queen Elizabeth’s death last September, her face was projected onto the sails for two days ‘to recognize Her Majesty’s contribution to the life and culture of Australia’.

NSW Prime Minister Chris Minns came under fire earlier this month for failing to light up the Opera House for the coronation of King Charles III, a decision he stuck to to ‘protect taxpayers’ money’.

Late debate contributor Liz Storer said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime event.”

“This was a slap in the face to the people who made it very clear what they wanted and you (Prime Minister Minns) just did what you wanted, which was the Labor government’s agenda to push a republic at all costs,” she said. .

Mr Minns was put on the scene by 2GB radio presenter Ben Fordham, who asked him why he was happy it was lit for some occasions and not for others.

“I appreciate it was done when the Queen died,” Mr Minns said.

“I thought that was appropriate, but the reason was that it was a commemoration of the life she had led and the sacrifice she had made on behalf of the Commonwealth, Australia and the UK – not as a result of her passing. or the king’s commemoration.’

Mr Albanese said the decision not to honor the king’s coronation rested with the state government.

“I was in the UK, so I wasn’t a party to any of those decisions,” he told 2GB’s Chris O’Keefe.

Mr Albanese then defended the decision to set sail with the Indian flag, claiming there were ‘1.4 billion reasons why’, referring to the country’s huge population.

“One of the things about lighting the opera house is that it projects our image to the world,” Albanese said.

“It will mean there’s coverage… There are 1.4 billion reasons why we want the Indian flag on the Opera House, because it’s the largest population in the world.

‘Two thirds of those 1.4 billion people are younger than 35 years. We want a relationship with them – we want them to come to Australia, bring their dollars, create jobs and create that economic activity in the tourism sector.”

The lifting of the sails – estimated to cost between $80,000 and $100,000 – comes after Mr Albanese held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart.

The pair signed a deal to slow people smuggling and improve relations between the two countries.

The Opera House was reported to have been the scene of the QUAD leader’s summit on Wednesday, which was canceled last week after US President Joe Biden pulled out at the last minute.

The Opera House was lit 70 times by 2022, costing the public between $5.6 million and $7 million.

These include exhibitions of indigenous artwork to mark Australia Day, the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag to show solidarity after their invasion by Russia, and international festivals such as Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights and the Lunar New Year.

It also included tributes to mark the deaths of Olivia Newton-John and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as police officers and paramedics killed in the line of duty.

Mr Minns previously said he thought it was ‘just lit up too often’.

The Opera House will be lit up next month for the Vivid winter festival of light, music and ideas, featuring immersive light installations and projections and musical performances.