India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has praised the progress of his country and spoken of the common values it shares with Australia during a speech in Sydney.

More than 15,000 enthusiastic members of the Indian diaspora gathered to hear Mr Modi speak at Olympic Park.

They were dressed in brightly coloured clothing and silk dresses, waved Indian flags and had their picture taken next to cardboard cut-outs of Mr Modi.

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Some travelled from interstate in specially chartered trains such as the “Modi Express”.

Mr Modi paid tribute to the strength of democracy in India and said the country would once again lead the world, as a young and energetic country with “2,500 million arms”.

“If there was no height of democracy, do you think I would have been here?” he said.

Overwhelmed, honoured and humbled. Will never forget this day. pic.twitter.com/uGeVUGkCQQ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2014

Mr Modi also acknowledged the poverty of his country and the difficulty of providing jobs when there were still many without basic infrastructure.

“After so many years of independence, not getting clean drinking water or electricity not available, not only that, even toilets are not there,” he said.

“Many people held dreams of doing many great jobs. They may have their dreams.

“But I have to do small jobs for smaller people … and [make] the small people big. That is what I want to work for.”

Mr Modi told the enthusiastic audience he wanted to build toilets and had started a project to do so in October.

“If we can make the country clean, it will be the biggest service for poor people,” he said.”If you have any feeling to save your country, then you can show your feeling by doing the cleanliness and credit the cleanliness in India.”

Neither Australia nor India can live without cricket: Modi

On a lighter note, Mr Modi remarked that neither Australia nor India could live without cricket.

“Cricket has joined us but before that we had the cultural history,” he said.

“Australia and India shared common values, democracy, that is there in both the countries.

“The world looks at the democratic countries with pride.”

Mr Modi also said he wanted to increase tourism to India and told the audience that Australians would be able to get a visa on arrival in the country.

The Indian leader – who was elected in May – went on to say he had demanded that bank accounts be opened for everyone in India, even if they had zero cash in their account.

“During (the) last 10 weeks, 71 million bank accounts have already opened. The same government, the same leaders, the same office, the same habit, the same people,” he said.

“Someone deposited 1 rupees, someone deposited 200 rupees. They felt that they were joining the mainstream.”

Focus on youth employment

Mr Modi emphasised the need to focus on India’s youth by creating employment and focusing on skill development.

Supporters of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: AAP

“If we want to achieve new heights of development, my dear young friends, India has decided to concentrate on the young people,” he said.

“On the confidence of their talent, on the confidence of their capacity, they would become competent to help the whole world.

“I wish that the whole world should come to India. The manufacturing sectors, they should come in… because… I wish that the youth of India should get employment.

“I have decided that 100 per cent foreign investment will be allowed in the railways. I’m inviting – please come, please come.”

Mr Modi is especially popular amongst his Hindu constituency.

While most are celebrating his visit, the Sikh Federation held a protest outside the Olympic indoor stadium.

They point to the thousands of Muslims who died in religious violence when Mr Modi was governor of the Indian state of Gujharat.

The federation said that minority groups face persecution in a Hindu-dominated India.

Police kept both groups well apart.

Earlier, a small group of protesters in Sydney called on Mr Modi to end conflict in the disputed territory of Kashmir.