Patna, July 12 (UNI) India is the mother of democracy in the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, while criticising the attempts to suggest that the country got democracy due to foreign rule and foreign thinking.
“The concept of democracy in India is as ancient as this nation is, as ancient as our culture,” he said, addressing the closing ceremony of the Centenary celebrations of Bihar Legislative Assembly here.
“When large parts of the world were taking their first steps towards civilisation and culture, a sophisticated democracy was operating in Vaishali. When the understanding of democratic rights was beginning to develop in other regions of the world, republics like Lichchavi and Vajjisangh were at their peak,” he said.
Stressing that Bihar always remained steadfast in its commitment for protecting democracy and democratic values, Modi mentioned that the state gave independent India’s first President in the form of Dr Rajendra Prasad.
“Leaders like Loknayak Jayaprakash, Karpoori Thakur and Babu Jagjivan Ram came from this land. Even when there was an attempt to crush the Constitution in the country, Bihar came to the fore and blew a trumpet of protest against it,” he said, in a veiled attack at the Congress.
“The more prosperous Bihar is, the more powerful India’s democracy will be. The stronger Bihar is, the more capable India will be,” he pointed out.
The Prime Minister inaugurated Shatabdi Smriti Stambh, which has been built to commemorate the 100 years of Bihar Vidhan Sabha.
He also laid the foundation stone of the Vidhan Sabha museum. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Vidhan Sabha guest house on the occasion.
Governor of Bihar Phagu Chauhan and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were among those present on the occasion.
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