Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the P20 Summit is taking place in a land known as the mother of democracy and the largest democracy in the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the P20 Summit is taking place in a land known as the mother of democracy and the largest democracy in the world. As a representative of different parliaments from around the world, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of debates and deliberations by giving accurate examples from history.
He mentioned that assemblies and committees have been mentioned in the five-thousand-year-old Vedas and scriptures of India where collective decisions were made for the betterment of society. He recited a Sanskrit shloka from the Rigveda, India’s oldest scripture, which means ‘We must walk together, speak together and that our minds must be conjoined’.
He also mentioned that debates were used to resolve issues at the village level, which amazed the Greek ambassador Megasthenes who wrote about it in great detail.
The Prime Minister also mentioned a 9th-century inscription in Tamil Nadu that elaborates upon rules and codes of village legislations. He added that the inscription, which is 1200 years old, also mentions the rules for disqualification of a member.
He spoke about the Anubhav Mantappa tradition, which has been going on in India since the 12th century, and how discussions were encouraged where people from every caste, creed, and religion were free to express their thoughts.
Read: BJP hails ‘strong and sensitive’ PM Modi govt, vows to bring every Indian home safely from Israel under Operation Ajay
“The Anubhav Mantappa initiated by Jagatguru Basweshwara makes India proud even today”, the Prime Minister remarked as he emphasized that India’s journey from 5000-year-old scriptures till today is a heritage of Parliamentary traditions not just for India but for the entire world.
PM Modi also mentioned the constant evolution and strengthening of the parliamentary traditions of India with time. He mentioned that 17 General elections and more than 300 state assembly elections have taken place in India since Independence, with people’s participation consistently increasing in this largest electoral exercise.