Many doubted India's faith in democracy: Modi

He became the 5th PM to address a joint sitting of the US Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said there were many who doubted when India reposed its faith in democracy but today "India lives as one, grows as one, celebrates as one".

Addressing a joint sitting of the US Congress, Modi recalled: "There were many who doubted India when, as a newly independent nation, we reposed our faith in democracy."

"Our founders created a modern nation with freedom, democracy, and equality as the essence of its soul," said Modi, the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address a joint sitting of the US Congress.

"Today, India lives as one, India grows as one, India celebrates as one."

Stating that India applauded the great sacrifices of the men and women from "the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave", he raised his hands and clapped and the entire house stood up and clapped along with him.

"In granting me this opportunity, you have honoured the world's largest democracy and its 1.25 billion people," he said.

Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh had addressed the US Congress.