'India is the mother of democracy': PM Modi pitches 'power to empower' vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described India as the "mother of democracy" and called for a shift from the traditional exercise of power towards empowering people, as he addressed the Bloomberg New Economy Forum.

Emphasising the importance of how power is exercised, Modi advocated an approach centred on creating opportunities, expanding access to knowledge and enabling individuals to succeed.

"Beyond the power to control lies the power to enable. Beyond the power to succeed lies the power to help others succeed," Modi said.


The Prime Minister also raised questions about whether technological progress would benefit only a select few or create opportunities for a much larger population.

"Will technology help only a few people move forward, or will it create opportunities for crores of people? Will knowledge enhance everyone's capabilities? This is where new ideas are born, and this idea is the power to empower," he said.

Highlighting India's democratic traditions, Modi said the country encourages open discussions on a wide range of issues, underscoring the role of public participation in its democratic framework.

He also pointed to India's expanding digital presence, saying the country has more than 500 million YouTube users, reflecting the scale of social media participation.

Modi stressed that the significance of power lies not merely in possessing it but in how it is used to benefit others.

Positioning India as an attractive destination for future opportunities, the Prime Minister said the country was the right destination for the future.