New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) Calling the 1975 Emergency period a "black period for the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he was "happy" that the people in India have always given priority to democracy.
"I am happy that people in my country have always given importance to democracy. There was a day when voice of people was trampled over but now the people of India express their views on how the government is doing," said Modi addressing the 21st edition of the monthly radio programme, 'Mann ki Baat'.
Stating that though people were enjoying complete democracy now, Modi said that there was a time in 1975, when the freedom of the people was curbed and 1,000 of political activists and student leaders were imprisoned without any reason.
"Basic rights of the people were snatched and the country was turned into a huge jail and all the prominent politicians, including Jai Prakash Narayan, working for the people were put behind the bars," Modi said.
The nation, he added, must not forget that dark period as it is a stark reminder that the country's strength is individual and collective power of people.
"Democracy has given us strength, but the night of June 25-26, 1975, was the darkest night for democracy. I always request people to have full faith in democracy," he added.
Modi also said that the nation must move forward through people's participation, insisting his government is committed to strengthen the democratic values.
