Our democracy is like a giant tree, diversity is its greatest strength: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at the Central Hall of the Parliament House Complex in New Delhi. On the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the role of the Speaker is unique in parliamentary democracy. The Speaker does not have to speak much, but their responsibility is to listen to others and ensure that everyone gets a chance to express their views. He emphasized that patience is the most common attribute of a Speaker, who faces shouting and over-enthusiastic members with a smile. Mr. Modi further said that India has now dedicated this historic location to democracy by naming it the Samvodhan Sadan. He highlighted that India recently celebrated 75 years of the implementation of its Constitution. He emphasized that the presence of all esteemed guests in the Samvodhan Sadan is a very special moment for Indian democracy.

The Prime Minister said that this is the fourth time the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth is being held in India. He highlighted that the main theme of the conference is the effective delivery of parliamentary democracy. Mr. Modi recalled that when India gained independence, it was feared that democracy would not survive in a country with such diversity. He emphasized that India has converted this diversity into the strength of its democracy. He further said that another major concern was that if democracy survived in India, development would not be possible.

The Prime Minister said that today India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world, India has the world's largest digital payment system through UPI, the largest vaccine manufacturer, the second-largest steel producer, the third-largest startup ecosystem, the third-largest aviation market, the fourth-largest railway network, the third-largest metro, and the second-largest dairy producer network.

Mr. Modi emphasized that in India, democracy means delivering facilities to the last person in the queue. He further said that India works with the spirit of public welfare, ensuring that benefits reach every individual without discrimination. He highlighted that due to this spirit of welfare, 250 million people have come out of poverty in recent years. He emphasized that in India, democracy provides facilities to the people. He said that this democratic spirit runs through the veins of India and the minds of its youth. Mr. Modi cited the example of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the whole world was struggling. He said that despite challenges within the country, India provided medicines and vaccines to over 150 countries.

He emphasized that protecting the interests of the people and their welfare is part of India's ethics and this ethics has been nurtured by Indian democracy.

Emphasizing that many people around the world know India as the largest democracy, Mr. Modi highlighted that the scale of Indian democracy is truly extraordinary. Referring to the general elections held in 2024, he emphasized that it was the largest democratic exercise in human history. Almost 980 million citizens were registered to vote, a number that exceeds the population of some continents. He said that over 8,000 candidates and more than 700 political parties were competing, and there was also a record participation of women voters in the elections. The Prime Minister emphasized that today Indian women are not only participating but also leading. He pointed out that the President of India is a woman and the Chief Minister of the city where the conference is being held, Delhi, is also a woman.

He further said that in India, there are almost 1.5 million elected women representatives in rural and local government bodies, which represents about 50 percent of the lower-level leaders, which is unparalleled globally. The Prime Minister said that India is a democracy rich in diversity.

He said that hundreds of languages are spoken here, there are over 900 television channels in different languages, and thousands of newspapers and magazines are published. He emphasized that very few societies manage diversity on this scale, and India celebrates this diversity because its democracy has strong foundations. Comparing India's democracy to a large tree with deep roots, Mr. Modi emphasized India's long tradition of debate, dialogue, and collective decision-making and recalled that India is called the mother of democracy. He highlighted that India's sacred texts, the Vedas, which are over 5,000 years old, refer to assemblies where people gather to discuss issues and make decisions through dialogue and consensus.

The Prime Minister said that India is the land of Lord Buddha, where Buddha used to have open and organized discussions, where decisions were made by consensus or voting. He further referred to a 10th-century inscription in Tamil Nadu that mentions a village assembly that worked with democratic values, with clear principles of accountability and decision-making. The Prime Minister emphasized that "India's democratic values have been tested over time, supported by diversity, and strengthened from generation to generation."

Mr. Modi said that almost 50 percent of the Commonwealth's population lives in India. He highlighted that India has consistently tried to contribute as much as possible to the development of all countries. He emphasized that in the Commonwealth's Sustainable Development Goals, whether in the areas of health, climate change, economic development, or innovation, India is fulfilling its commitments with full responsibility. He emphasized that India makes continuous efforts to learn from fellow partners and also ensures that India's experiences benefit other Commonwealth countries.