New Delhi: At the second edition of US President Joe Biden’s ‘Summit for Democracy’, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called India the “mother of democracy” – a slogan used repeatedly during India’s G20 presidency.The Indian prime minister claimed that India’s democracy could be traced back to the “ancient epic Mahabharata” and the Vedas. “The idea of elected leaders was a common feature in ancient India, long before the rest of the world. In our ancient epic, Mahabharata, the first duty of citizens is described as choosing their own leader. Our sacred Vedas, speak of political power being exercised by broad-based consultative bodies. There are also many historical references to Republic states in ancient India, where the rulers were not hereditary. India is, indeed, the mother of democracy,” Modi said.India’s democratic institutions, he continued, are known to deliver the people’s needs – from the vaccination programme to fighting climate change.“There is much to say about the virtues of democracy, but let me say just this: India, despite the many global challenges, is the fastest growing major economy today. This itself is the best advertisement for democracy in the world. This itself says that Democracy Can Deliver,” he concluded.My remarks at the ‘Summit For Democracy’. https://t.co/6EXuxlGyd6— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 29, 2023Modi spoke at the event, co-hosted by the governments of the United States, Zambia, Costa Rica, the Netherlands and South Korea, virtually.The proposal for a democracy summit was part of US President Joe Biden’s presidential election campaign, with the aim of promoting democracies as a better fit for society compared to autocracies. Modi had participated in the event in 2021 as well.His speech comes at a time when the Indian government and judiciary have been questioned for the two-year jail sentence given to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case, leading to his disqualification from parliament.On Tuesday, the United States had said that Washington was “watching” Indian opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s case in the Indian courts and was engaged with the Indian government on “freedom of expression”.