Govt wants to make India the finest democracy: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a political pitch at the inauguration of the Smart City Mission here on Thursday, with ample references to the Emergency imposed under Congress rule 40 years ago and that the current government wants to make India the finest democracy.

“Nobody can forget what happened on June 25, 40 years ago…India was converted into a jail when Emergency was imposed,’’ Modi told the audience, gathered to listen to his vision on smart cities. ‘’Newspapers were shut and radio aired only what the government wanted.’’  Adding: "Dreams and aspirations that inspired people to struggle against the emergency should be a beacon for this gathering.’’

Read more from our special coverage on "EMERGENCY"

• On its 40th anniversary, Twitter recalls Emergency in different strokes
• Modi says India was converted into a jail when Emergency was imposed
• Country turned into a jail during Emergency: PM
• Govt has imposed undeclared Emergency in country: Congress
• Emergency darkest period; vibrant democracy key to progress: PM Modi

On providing a house to all by 2022, he made another dig at the Congress party, saying that people would ask this government if the 20 million housing shortfall is not met by the promised timeframe of 2022 but they wont ask them (referring to Congress) why there’s such a huge shortfall. "But that will not make us sit quiet.’’

Chief ministers of states ruled by his party, Maharashtra and Haryana, joined the PM on the dais.