Sydney: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said that that it was his good fortune to be the first Indian prime minister to be born post-Independence.

“It is my good fortune that I’m the first prime minister of India to be born post-1947,” Modi said at a massive gathering of the Indian diaspora at the Allphones Arena.

“We did not get the opportunity to die for the nation or spend our youth in jail. But we can surely live for the nation,” he said.

At the gathering, which was attended by over 16,000 members of the Indian Australian community, Modi dedicated the respect and ovation that he was getting in Australia to the Indian people.

“This welcome, this respect, this enthusiasm…I dedicate it to the people of India,” he said.

The prime minister lamented that “it took 28 years for (an Indian prime minister) to come here.”

The last Indian prime minister to visit Australia was Rajiv Gandhi.

“My friends in Australia, I assure you… you won’t have to wait for 28 years,” Modi said.

Modi arrived in Australia Nov 14 to attend the G20 summit in Brisbane. He will also address the Australian parliament and visit Melbourne during his stay.

71 mn Jan Dhan rural accounts opened, Rs.5,000 cr deposited: PM

Over 71 million bank accounts have been opened through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana so far in the villages in India and the money deposited amounts to Rs.5,000 crore, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here in his address at the Allphones Arena Monday.

Addressing the euphoric crowd of around 16,000 Indian diaspora, Modi said that this was done by the same government infrastructure, the same government servants and with the same habits, “but the work has got done”.

He said when he asked the Reserve Bank of India, he was told by the officers it would take three years to open bank accounts in the villages.

He said he then approached the finance ministry which said it would take two years, while his own Prime Minister’s Office said one year.

“I heard everyone, and announced Aug 15 that I want the work in 150 days,” he said.”I said that Jan 26 is the final date, and “all bank employees are on overdrive” to get rural families access to the banking system.