Indian Prime Minister to speak in front of 16,000 people Supporters on the Modi Express. Picture: Mal Fairclough / AFP Source: AFP FORGET Obama, Merkel and Putin - Modi fever has hit Australia with thousands of supporters vying to get a glimpse of Indian Prime Minister in Sydney today. Narendra Modi has achieved rock star status among the Indian community, with some saying no leader since Mahatma Gandhi had captured the nation's imagination like him. Last night more than 200 people got on the "Modi Express," a train specially chartered to take supporters from Melbourne to Sydney to hear the prime minister speak at Sydney's Olympic Park. More than 16,000 people are expected to attend the community reception and another 5,000 will watch him on big screens outside the arena, Fairfax has reported. Indian PM Narendra Modi and Hugh Jackman pictured in Central Park, New York Source: TWITTER @IndiaToday Source: Twitter The event echoes a gathering held at New York's Madison Square Garden recently that attracted 19,000 fans. Mr Modi even appeared with Aussie actor Hugh Jackman at another event in Central Park. President of the Indian Tamil organisation Tamilar Ganesh Jaygan, is just one of the Hindu prime minister's many supporters. "No leader since Mahatma Gandhi has captured the imagination of the nation and the international polity as Narendra Modi has done," he told ABC News. There are high hopes that the prime minister will clean up corruption in India and champion the poor, following his election in May. "We have put all of our faith in Modi to remove corruption, to clean India, to bring India back to its glory," another supporter Rakesh Raizada told ABC. Supporters in Melbourne last night. Supporters dance outside Southern Cross station in Melbourne. Raizada was one of the high-spirited passengers who packed into the four carriages of the Modi Express for the 12-hour train journey to see the prime minister speak. The carriages were decorated with the colours of the Indian flag and mango leaves were hung over doorways. Passengers chanted "Modi, Modi, Modi," danced and sang during the journey, dining on traditional vegetarians dishes from the PM's home state of Gujarat. The group arrived just before 7am at Sydney's Central Station. But not everyone is happy with Mr Modi. There is also expected to be a peaceful demonstration outside Allphones Arena tonight by about 500 members of the Sikh community and other minority religions who believe that the PM's agenda is to make India a Hindu nation and wipe them out. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before a breakfast at Customs House. Mr Modi, who used to be a tea vendor, is the first Indian leader in 28 years to visit Australia. The federal government has rolled out the red carpet to ensure his visit doesn't go unnoticed as things between India and Australian have been rocky in recent years. Tensions flared over attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and two-way trade has done nothing but slide. But the Abbott government sensed an opportunity when the pro-business Mr Modi won the Indian elections in a landslide in May. Mr Abbott wants to reignite Australian investment in India and show Mr Modi that Australia has what it takes to drive infrastructure projects and provide energy for his enormous country. The Hindu nationalist seems to have accepted these overtures, inviting Mr Abbott to India as his first official bilateral visit since becoming prime minister. Mr Modi has also been invited to address Australia's parliament on Tuesday - a rare symbolic offer extended to few leaders. He will then speak to thousands of Indian supporters in a stadium spectacular at Sydney's Olympic Park, which will be beamed to millions more in India. Modi Express organiser Ashwin Bora said the response to the chartered train had been overwhelming. "To be honest with you, we were expecting a basic journey from point A to point B but what has turned out is basically a full-on party - people are really enthusiastic to hear from their prime minister in this country after 28 long years," he said. I have lived 11 years here (in Australia) and I have not seen anything like this. Supporters wave Indian flags and dance outside Southern Cross station. Supporters of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.