The democratic spirit is integral to India's civilization ethos, PM Modi said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India’s story has one clear message to the world - that democracy can deliver, that democracy has delivered, and that democracy will continue to deliver.

Delivering the National Statement at the Summit for Democracy organized by USA, PM Modi said, “I am proud to represent the world's largest democracy at this Summit. The democratic spirit is integral to our civilization ethos.”

“This very democratic spirit and ethos had made ancient India one of the most prosperous. Centuries of colonial rule could not suppress the democratic spirit of the Indian people,” the Prime Minister noted.

“It again found full expression with India's independence, and led to an unparalleled story in democratic nation-building over the last 75 years,” he pointed out.

“It is a story of unprecedented socio-economic inclusion in all spheres. It is a story of constant improvements in health, education, and human well-being at an un-imaginable scale,” PM Modi remarked.

He said, “The India story has one clear message to the world. That democracy can deliver, that democracy has delivered, and that democracy will continue to deliver.”

“Structural features like multi-party elections, independent judiciary, and free media - are important instruments of democracy. However, the basic strength of democracy is the spirit and ethos that lie within our citizens and our societies,” Prime Minister Modi explained.

Democracy is not only of the people, by the people, for the people but also with the people, within the people, he added.
Noting that, different parts of the world have followed different paths of democratic development, the Indian Prime Minister said, there is much we can learn from each other.

“We all need to constantly improve our democratic practices and systems. And, we all need to continuously enhance inclusion, transparency, human dignity, responsive grievance redressal and decentralization of power,” he argued.

“India would be happy to share its expertise in holding free and fair elections, and in enhancing transparency in all areas of governance through innovative digital solutions,” Modi further stated.

“We must also jointly shape global norms for emerging technologies like social media and crypto-currencies, so that they are used to empower democracy, not to undermine it,” he submitted.

According to PM Modi, by working together, democracies can meet the aspirations of our citizens and celebrate the democratic spirit of humanity.

“India stands ready to join fellow democracies in this noble endeavor,” he added further.
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