Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the Parliament of Ghana on Thursday created a moment of shared surprise and amusement when he highlighted the sheer scale of India’s political landscape.1The chamber rippled with murmurs and smiles when the Prime Minister stated that India, the world’s largest democracy, has over 2,500 political parties.
“Democracy is Not a System, But Our Values”
Addressing the special session in English, PM Modi described India as the “mother of democracy,” emphasizing that its democratic ethos is deeply ingrained in its culture.3 “For us, democracy is not just a system, it is a part of our fundamental values,” he said, first in Hindi and then in English.4 He pointed to India’s vast diversity—with 20 different parties governing various states and thousands of dialects spoken—as a testament to the strength and openness of its democratic fabric. He added that this spirit of openness and dialogue is what allows India to welcome people with open hearts and helps Indians integrate easily wherever they go.
A Historic Visit
The Prime Minister’s visit marks a significant diplomatic milestone, being the first by an Indian premier to the West African nation in over three decades.5 During the visit, PM Modi was also conferred with ‘The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana’, the country’s highest civilian honour, by President John Mahama.6 This visit is the first leg of a five-nation tour that will also see the Prime Minister travel to Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil for the 17th BRICS summit, and finally, Namibia, as part of India’s broader outreach to the Global South.
