Don’t take democracy for granted: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday reminded people of the emergency imposed By Indira Gandhi and urged them not to take democracy "for granted", saying in day-to-day life, it is difficult to savour the joy of democratic rights, unless they are snatched away. In his first 'Mann ki Baat' monthly radio address after returning to power, he said everyday when one gets to eat food on time, one doesn't realize what hunger pangs are. "Similarly, in day-to-day life, it is difficult to savour the joy of democratic rights, unless they are snatched away. During Emergency, every citizen of the country had started getting the feeling that something that belonged to him had been snatched away," he said. Modi was of the view that people must keep reminding themselves that democracy is "gloriously great, it flows in our veins, through centuries of dedicated practice."