India Ready To Strengthen Democratic Values: PM Modi Participates In 'Summit For Democracy'
PM Modi said that technology has the ability to impact democracy "positively or negatively", and thus, it should contribute to preserving democratic societies.
US President Joe Biden is hosting the first of two Summits for Democracy, which takes place virtually between December 9–10. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the summit saying that 'democratic spirit' and 'pluralistic ethos' are ingrained in Indians.
PM Modi said that India is ready to work to strengthen democratic values globally, including in multilateral fora. President Biden said that the summit is aimed at tackling threats to democratic processes through 'collective action'.
Modi also said that technology has the ability to impact democracy "positively or negatively", and thus, it should contribute to preserving democratic societies, reported PTI.
Happy to have participated in the Summit for Democracy at the invitation of President Biden. As the world's largest democracy, India stands ready to work with our partners to strengthen democratic values globally, including in multilateral fora. @POTUS
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 10, 2021
A total of 100 nations participated in this 'Summit for Democracy'. Even Ukraine and Taiwan were invited for the summit but Russia and China were not. Both these countries released a joint statement in which they said that US is displaying a “Cold-War mentality” that will “stoke up ideological confrontation and a rift in the world".
In his address, PM Modi highlighted India's civilisational ethos as one of the original sources of democracy. He outlined sensitivity, accountability, participation, and reform orientation as four pillars of Indian democratic governance, stressing that principles of democracy should also guide global governance, reported PTI.
India's Prime Minister also recalled that 75 years ago, India's Constituent Assembly had held its first session. He said how democratic countries must deliver on values enshrined in their respective constitutions.
Today, I'm hosting the first Summit for Democracy. We're bringing together leaders from over 100 governments, alongside activists, trade unionists, experts, and other members of civil society to lock arms and reaffirm our shared commitment to make our democracies better. pic.twitter.com/bQ2jyaHmmM
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 9, 2021
"He stressed that principles of democracy should also guide global governance; and that given technology's ability to impact democracy positively or negatively, technology companies should contribute to preserving open and democratic societies," said a source to PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
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