A far-right anti-immigration activist allegedly shouted abuse-filled slogans at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after entering a Melbourne hotel on Wednesday, only hours after the Prime Minister arrived in Australia for his two-day visit, according to reports. The same individual also attempted to interrupt Modi's address to the Indian community at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Thursday, but his efforts were drowned out by music from attendees before he was forced to leave.
In a video circulated on social media, the protester, identified as Hugo Lennon, who is active online under the name "Auspill", was seen shouting at PM Modi as the Prime Minister walked along a red carpet inside the hotel lobby.
Standing on an upper floor overlooking the lobby, Lennon yelled, "F*** Modi! This is Australia. No more Indians. We don't want any more migration. This country is for Australians."
Police personnel immediately moved in and escorted Lennon away from the first-floor balcony while he continued shouting slogans.
Authorities declined to comment on how Lennon knew the Prime Minister's location or how close he came to him. However, The Sydney Morning Herald later reported that several far-right influencers had shared details of Modi's movements in Melbourne through online platforms during the visit.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed to The Sydney Morning Herald that a 22-year-old man had attended a hotel and shouted political slogans at around 12.30 am.
"He was moved on by police without incident," the spokesperson told the publication.
According to the newspaper, Lennon is described as a neo-Nazi associate and the heir to a wealthy property development family who has built a following as a far-right influencer.
The UK-based Daily Mail reported that Lennon was among the prominent figures behind the anti-immigration "March for Australia" rallies held across the country last year, which attracted thousands of protesters. Australian media reports later alleged that several organisers of the demonstrations, including Lennon, had links to neo-Nazi and white nationalist groups.
ANTI-IMMIGRATION PROTESTERS ATTEMPTED TO DISRUPT MODI'S EVENT
On Thursday, Lennon returned with a group of anti-immigration protesters as part of a planned demonstration outside Melbourne's Marvel Stadium, where Prime Minister Modi addressed members of the Indian diaspora alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Lennon led the group in a march from the Department of Home Affairs headquarters to the entrance of Marvel Stadium. The protesters allegedly shouted racist slogans at people arriving for the event for nearly two hours while displaying placards carrying messages such as "Stop Indian Invasion" and "Modi Go Home".
Despite their efforts, the protest failed to disrupt the event.
Supporters attending the programme drowned out the demonstrators' slogans, while live performances by two musical groups further reduced the impact of the protest. Lennon eventually abandoned his speech after Janagar Jana Dhol Pathak, a drumming group founded by Indian-origin Australians, began performing directly in front of the protesters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day visit after addressing the Indian community and holding bilateral discussions with Anthony Albanese. The brief protests did not disrupt either the official engagements or the large diaspora event.
