Democratic spirit runs in India’s veins and is underpinned by its values, PM Narendra Modi said Thursday, asserting that the country had belied post-Independence apprehensions about its future as it turned its diversity into strength and showed the world that its democratic institutions and processes deliver stability, speed and scale.
Addressing the 28th conference of speakers and presiding officers of the Commonwealth at the central hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the old Parliament building, after inaugurating the event, he said democracy in India means last-mile delivery for citizens and working for everyone’s welfare without any discrimination. “In India, democracy delivers,” he said.
“Another significant doubt was that if democracy somehow does survive in Bharat, it will not under any condition be able to develop. But Bharat proved that democratic institutions and democratic processes provide the stability of democracy, speed, and scale. (Today) Bharat is the world’s fastest-growing economy,” he added.
Achievements in digital payments, vaccine production
PM Modi underlined feats such as India’s UPI being the world’s biggest digital payments system, its status as the world’s largest vaccine producer, the second-largest steel producer, and having the third-largest startup ecosystem and aviation market in the world.
It also had the fourth-largest railway network in addition to the third-largest metro rail network, while being the biggest milk producer and the second-largest rice producer in the world.
Citing the Covid-19 pandemic, when the entire world was struggling, the PM Modi sought to underscore that despite challenges within it, India supplied medicines and vaccines to more than 150 nations, adding that serving people’s interests, welfare, and well-being is India’s ethos, which had been nurtured by India’s democracy since time immemorial.
‘Definition of democracy is last-mile delivery’
“In Bharat, the definition of democracy is last-mile delivery. We are working with the spirit of public welfare for each individual without bias. It is because of this spirit of public welfare that 25 crore people have come out of poverty over the last few years,” he said.
“In India, democracy delivers. Democracy delivers in Bharat because in our country, it is the people who are paramount. We have made their aspirations, the dreams of Janata Janardan our priorities. To ensure that this does not encounter any obstacles, from process to technology, everything has been democratized. And this democratic spirit is in our veins, our hearts, and our tradition,” he added.
The PM Modi sought to highlight that the venue of the event holds immense importance in India’s democratic journey.
‘India’s democracy like a large tree supported by deep roots’
Comparing India’s democracy to a large tree supported by deep roots, the PM Modi sought to emphasize its long-standing tradition of debate, dialogue, and collective decision-making, in reference to it being called the Mother of Democracy.
“India’s sacred texts, the Vedas, over 5,000 years old, refer to assemblies where people met to discuss issues and took decisions after discussion and agreement…India is the land of Bhagwan Buddha, where the Buddhist Sangha used to have open and structured discussions, with decisions taken through consensus or voting,” PM Modi said.
He also referred to a 10th-century inscription from Tamil Nadu describing a village assembly that worked with democratic values, with clear rules for accountability and decision-making. “India’s democratic values have been tested by time, supported by diversity, and strengthened generation after generation”, he also said.
Underlining geopolitical challenges being faced by the Global South and the way forward, PM Modi said nearly 50 percent of the Commonwealth’s total population resides in India, adding that India has consistently sought to contribute as much as possible to the development of all nations.
When it came to the Commonwealth’s Sustainable Development Goals, whether in the areas of health, climate change, economic growth, or innovation, India is fulfilling its commitments “with full responsibility” and continuously makes efforts to learn from fellow partners on the one hand and ensuring that India’s experiences benefit other Commonwealth nations on the other.
