Patna: 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.
The Prime Minister said that for decades, attempts have been made to tell Indians that India got democracy due to foreign rule and foreign thinking, but when any person says this, he tries to cover up the history of Bihar and the heritage of Bihar.
“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.
The Prime Minister reiterated that mother of democracy is India and the glorious heritage of Bihar and the historical documents present in Pali are living proof of this. No one can erase or hide this splendour of Bihar, he insisted.
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.
In the context of changing needs of the 21st century and resolutions of New India in the 75th year of Independence, the Prime Minister said, “As MPs of the country, as MLAs of the state, it is also our responsibility that we together defeat every challenge being faced by democracy. Rising above the distinction of party-politics, our voice should be united for the country and its interest.”
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. Different galleries in the museum will demonstrate the history of democracy in Bihar and the evolution of the current civic structure. It will also have a Conference Hall with more than 250 people capacity.
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. (UNI)
