Narendra Modi receives rapturous welcome in Melbourne

More than 20,000 people have given a rapturous welcome to Narendra Modi at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium, with the Indian Prime Minister lauding his nation's achievements and Anthony Albanese heaping praise on Australia's Indian diaspora.

A packed crowd cheered uproariously and waved thousands of mobile phone lights above their heads as Mr Modi hit familiar themes during his speech, saying that India's technology sector and economy were booming.

"But we want to become one of the world's top three economies as soon as possible, because our inspiration is to grow more, achieve more."

It marked the third time that Mr Modi has visited Australia as Prime Minister, which he said meant he had delivered a "hat trick".

"This shows at what heights the relationship between India and Australia is now," he said.

Mr Modi also drew a large roar when he celebrated India's precision strikes on what his government says were terrorist camps in Pakistan, in the wake of a deadly terrorist attacks launched by militants in Kashmir.

Mr Modi declared that strike was an explosion that was "heard around the world".

"Didn't you feel proud when India carried out such a decisive strike against terrorist camps?" he asked.

Australian leaders receive mixed reaction

Both Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan took the stage with Mr Modi, although while Mr Albanese received a loud cheer, the crowd greeted the premier with half-hearted applause and scattered boos.

But they warmed to the premier when she declared that the state respected and welcomed Indians, declaring India was "not just a country that we trade with: it's a country that we trust".

The rally occurred against a backdrop of rising anti-immigration sentiment, with a small contingent of far right protesters trying to bait those attending the rally, holding a protest against Indian immigration and Mr Modi outside the stadium.

But Mr Albanese has remained a staunch defender of multiculturalism, and he used his speech to call the Indian Australian community the "living bridge" between the two countries.

Security at the event was tight, with police dogs sniffing cars before they could enter, and a large contingent of police shadowing and, in some cases, separating protesters from Mr Modi's supporters.

A small group of pro-Khalistan protesters — who advocate for a separate Sikh homeland in India — shouted abusive slogans against Mr Modi.

Waseem Razvi, chair of the Alliance Against Islamophobia, was also there with a group of protesters, said they wanted to raise public awareness of what they described as Mr Modi's record on discrimination against Muslims.

Mr Razvi said he was from the south of India in Hyderabad, and said he wanted to take a stand against hate.

"One was the human rights violation taking place in India and the other is the importing of the hate being imported here on Australian soil," he said.

But the overwhelming majority of Indian Australians gathered at the stadium were there to heap praise on Mr Modi rather than criticise him.

Supporters line up hours before event

Men, women, children began lining up outside the stadium from 3pm — almost five hours before Mr Modi began speaking — for their chance to get into Docklands and hear Mr Modi's speech

Anita Dhiman was there with her children, and said she'd been waiting for an hour to get in as some members still hadn't got their tickets.

"We are here to see Prime Minister Modi and to welcome him. We have been waiting for so long," she said.

"He has done a lot for the country."

Ms Dhiman said she did not think the allegations of human rights abuses levelled against Mr Modi were accurate.

Her daughter, Sonali, 22, who was born in India but brought up in Australia, said she did not have any strong opinions about politics, but was excited to see Mr Modi.

"There is good and bad in everything, but, from what I hear he has been doing well since he has been prime minister" she told the ABC.

Pallavi Jaura was also there with her mother-in-law Navneet Kaur Jaura.

Ms Jaura said this was the first time she had the opportunity to see Mr Modi.

"He is the most inspiring leader in the world," she said.

As night fell, the temperature inside the stadium dropped close to freezing, but the crowd continued to chant patriotic slogans and waited patiently until the leaders arrived.

Jay Patel and Darshan Prajapati had driven from Adelaide just to attend the event, leaving their home at 4am in the morning.

But they did not regret their decision to come.

"He is one of the most powerful leaders in the world," Mr Patel said.