India is mother of democracy: PM Modi

New Delhi: Seeking to dispel any doubts about India’s position as the world’s largest democracy and the fifth-largest economy that will soon be the third-largest economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a joint sitting of the ,  on Thursday (Friday IST) that “India is the mother of democracy” and that “democracy is one of our sacred and shared values”, adding that “we are home to all faiths in the world, and we celebrate all of them”.

Pointing out that “in India, diversity is a natural way of life”, Modi -- in what is being seen as a message to India’s Opposition -- said while “there must be a contest of ideas at home, we must also come together as one when we speak for our nation”.

Addressing the US Congress for the second time as Prime Minister, which he described as a “great honour” and an “exceptional privilege”, Modi reiterated his vision of “together, for everyone’s growth, with everyone’s trust and everyone’s efforts”, and also highlighted the achievements of India under his leadership that included all.

Launching a veiled but pointed attack on China at the US Congress, Mr Modi said that the “dark clouds of coercion and confrontation are casting their shadow in the Indo Pacific”, and “the stability of the region has become one of the central concerns of our (Indo-US) partnership”.

Lavishing praise on the India-US partnership, Modi said it would make “the world a better place”, while telling the US Congress: “The scope of our cooperation is endless, the potential of our synergies is limitless, and, the chemistry in our relations is effortless… That is the mission of our partnership. That is our calling for this century. Even by the high standards of our partnership, this visit is one of a great positive transformation. Together, we shall demonstrate that democracies matter and democracies deliver. I count on your continued support to the India-US partnership.”

He added: “Now, the US is the oldest and India the largest democracy. Our partnership augurs well for the future of democracy. Together, we shall give a better future to the world, and a better world to the future. We come from different circumstances and history, but we are united by a common vision. And by a common destiny. When our partnership progresses, economic resilience increases, innovation grows, science flourishes, knowledge advances, humanity benefits, our seas and skies are safer, democracy will shine brighter”.

Seeking to address America’s concerns, Modi spoke on the Ukraine conflict by reiterating that “this is not an era of war but it is one of dialogue and diplomacy and (that) we all must do what we can to stop the bloodshed and human suffering”, while emphasising “respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity”. He added: “With the Ukraine conflict, war has returned to Europe. It is causing great pain in the region. Since it involves major powers, the outcomes are severe. The countries of the Global South have been particularly affected.”

On the values of democracy, Mr Modi said: “Being a citizen of a vibrant democracy myself… I can relate to the battles of passion, persuasion and policy. I can understand the debate of ideas and ideology… The beauty of democracy is the constant connect with the people, to listen to them, and feel their pulse… Democracy is one of our sacred and shared values… Democracy is the spirit that supports equality and dignity. Democracy is the idea that welcomes debate and discourse. Democracy is the culture that gives wings to thought and expression. India is blessed to have such values from times immemorial. In the evolution of the democratic spirit, India is the mother of democracy.”

Talking about India’s journey, he said: “Last year, India celebrated 75 years of its independence. Every milestone is important, but this one was special. We celebrated a remarkable journey of over 75 years of freedom, after a thousand years of foreign rule in one form or another. This was not just a celebration of democracy, but also of diversity. Not just of the Constitution, but also of its spirit of social empowerment. Not just of our competitive and cooperative federalism, but also of our essential unity and integrity.”

He continued: “We have over 2,500 political parties. Yes, you heard that right – 2,500. About 20 different parties govern various states of India. We have 22 official languages and thousands of dialects, and yet, we speak in one voice. Every hundred miles, our cuisine changes. From dosa to aloo paratha and from srikhand to sandesh. We enjoy all of these.”

Talking about India’s economic prowess, Mr Modi said: “When I first visited the US as Prime Minister, India was the tenth largest economy in the world. Today, India is the fifth largest economy. And (it) will be the third largest economy soon. We are not only growing bigger but are also growing faster. When India grows, the whole world grows. After all, we are one-sixth of the world’s population! In the last century, when India won its freedom, it inspired many other countries to free themselves from colonial rule. In this century, when India sets benchmarks in growth, it will inspire many other countries to do the same.”

Praising the US and the Indian-American community, including US vice-president Kamala Harris, Mr Modi said: “The foundation of America was inspired by the vision of a nation of equal people. Throughout your history, you have embraced people from around the world. And, you have made them equal partners in the American dream. There are millions here, who have roots in India. Some of them sit proudly in this chamber. There is one behind me, who has made history! I am told that the Samosa Caucus is now the flavour of the House. I hope it grows and brings the full diversity of Indian cuisine here. Over two centuries, we have inspired each other through the lives of great Americans and Indians. We pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Junior.”

In a veiled dig at Chinese military and economic policies, Mr Modi told the US Congress: “We share a vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, connected by secure seas, defined by international law, free from domination, and anchored in Asean centrality. A region where all nations, small and large, are free and fearless in their choices, where progress is not suffocated by impossible burdens of debt, where connectivity is not leveraged for strategic purposes, where all nations are lifted by the high tide of shared prosperity. Our vision does not seek to contain or exclude, but to build a cooperative region of peace and prosperity. We work through regional institutions and with our partners from within the region and beyond. Of this, the Quad has emerged as a major force of good for the region.”

Mr Modi said: “India is an ancient nation with a youthful population. India is known for its traditions, but the younger generation is also making it a hub of technology. Be it creative reels on Insta or real-time payments, coding or quantum computing, machine learning or mobile apps, fintech or data science, the youth of India are a great example of how a society can embrace the latest technology. In India, technology is not only about innovation but also about inclusion. Today, digital platforms are empowering the rights and dignity of people, while protecting privacy.”

Attacking terrorism, he said: “More than two decades after 9/11 and more than a decade after 26/11 in Mumbai, radicalism and terrorism still remain a pressing danger for the whole world. These ideologies keep taking new identities and forms, but their intentions are the same. Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there can be no ifs or buts in dealing with it. We must overcome all such forces sponsoring and exporting terror.”