Modi bats for joint efforts to shape global norms for social media, cryptocurrencies

Modi began by saying that he is proud to represent the world's largest democracy at the summit

All democratic nations must constantly enhance inclusion and transparency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, as he participated in the virtual Summit for Democracy convened by the United States President Joe Biden.

The Prime Minister also stressed shaping “global norms” for emerging technologies like social media and cryptocurrencies, so that they could be “used to empower democracy, not to undermine it”.

The Modi Government was earlier this year at loggerheads with Twitter and WhatsApp over the implementation of the new Information Technology rules. The social media companies had reservations about the new IT rules and they argued that some sections of it might be in conflict with the right of privacy and freedom of speech of the users.

Modi took part in the Summit for Democracy even as China made Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan decline the invitation from the US to attend it.

Also read: PM Modi to take final call on crypto regulatory framework: Report

The Prime Minister had taken part in a closed-door session of the summit on Thursday and presented the national statement in an open session on Friday.

“Different parts of the world have followed different paths of democratic development. There is much we can learn from each other,” he said, addressing over 85 leaders, including the US President. “We all need to constantly improve our democratic practices and systems. And, we all need to continuously enhance inclusion, transparency, human dignity, responsive grievance redressing and decentralization of power”.

The Biden Administration has been tacitly conveying to the Modi Government concerns in the US over the perception that India was backsliding on human rights and freedom of speech and religion. The US President, as well as his Vice President Kamala Harris, subtly nudged the Prime Minister to protect the democratic principles of India, when they had hosted him in Washington DC on September 24.

The Prime Minister on Friday said that the democratic spirit was integral to the civilization ethos of India. He noted that the elected republican city-states such as Lichhavi and Shakya had flourished in India as far as 2500 years back and the 10th Century "Uttaramerur '' inscription that codified the principles of democratic participation.

“This very democratic spirit and ethos had made ancient India one of the most prosperous. Centuries of the colonial rule could not suppress the democratic spirit of the Indian people. It again found full expression with India's independence, and led to an unparalleled story in democratic nation-building over the last 75 years,” he said.

He said that the story of India had one clear message to the world. “That democracy can deliver, that democracy has delivered and that democracy will continue to deliver.”

He said that the basic strength of democracy was the spirit and ethos within citizens and societies. “Democracy is not only of the people, by the people, for the people but also with the people, within the people.”

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