Anti-immigration protester heckles PM Modi at Melbourne hotel during Australia visit

A far-right anti-immigration protester disrupted security at the Melbourne hotel where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was staying, shouting abuse-laden slogans just hours after the Indian leader arrived in Australia for a two-day visit.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the incident took place early Wednesday after PM Modi checked into the hotel. The protester, identified as Hugo Lennon, later also attempted to interrupt Modi’s address to the Indian diaspora at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on Thursday but was drowned out by music and escorted away.

Operating under the social media persona “Auspill”, Lennon posted a video online showing himself shouting from an upper-floor balcony overlooking the hotel lobby as Modi arrived on the red carpet.

“This is Australia. No more Indians. We don’t want any more migration. This country is for Australians,” he was heard yelling before police intervened.

Victoria Police said a 22-year-old man attended the hotel at around 12.30 am on Wednesday and shouted political statements before officers removed him without incident.

Authorities have not disclosed how the protester learned of the Prime Minister’s location or how close he came to Modi. However, local media reported that some far-right influencers had shared details of the Prime Minister’s movements online during the visit.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Lennon is a wealthy property development heir and an alleged associate of neo-Nazi groups who has emerged as a far-right influencer. The Daily Mail reported that he was among the organisers of last year’s anti-immigration “March for Australia” rallies, which drew thousands of protesters and were later linked by Australian media to individuals associated with neo-Nazi and white nationalist groups.

Despite the disruptions, PM Modi’s official engagements went ahead as planned. He addressed the Indian community in Melbourne and held bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before concluding his visit. Modi then departed for New Zealand, the final stop of his three-nation tour, after earlier visiting Indonesia.