Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India is not only the largest democracy but actually the “Mother of the Democracy”.
Addressing the valedictory function of the centenary celebrations of Bihar assembly building here, the Prime Minister said democracy emanated from the soil of Bihar and the country is the mother of democracy.
Appealing to the people and public representatives to strive for making Bihar a strong state, the Prime Minister said the democratic system of the country would be stronger with a strong Bihar.
Highlighting the importance and strength of democracy, he said the democratic system in Lichhvi and in Vaishali of Bihar was at its peak at the time when people in the world were just becoming aware and getting the knowledge about democracy.
Speaking about the awareness and sensitivity of the people of Bihar towards democracy, the Prime Minister said the people of the state thwarted all attempts to suppress democracy either before independence or after independence.
Referring to the sacrifices of the first chief minister of Bihar Shri Krishna Singh, popular as Bihar Kesari, the Prime Minister said prior to Independence when the British government in India tried to drag the country into the Second World War, it was Singh who strongly opposed the colonial ruler’s designs by putting down his papers.
Similarly, after independence, when there was a move to suppress democracy in 1974-75, the people of Bihar did not tolerate it and rejected the entire initiative.
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The Prime Minister said it was the people of Bihar who did not let the democracy weaken during the period and used their entire might to save it.
UNI