All Prime Ministers Have Contributed to India's Progress: PM Modi in Parliament

New Delhi: During a special discussion on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that it is the demand of time that we make people aware of the sanctity and strength of our Constitution. The PM added that "Marking November 26 as Constitution Day is not to undermine January 26 (Republic Day)."

Following are the highlights of PM Modi's speech in Lok Sabha:

• Respected Madam Speaker, you conducted this debate in a manner that was as per the Constitution. I Thank you for that.
• The interest that was displayed in this debate was exemplary.
• The spirit of this (Constitution) debate is not 'you' or 'I', but it is 'we'.
• It is the demand of time that we make people aware of the sanctity and strength of our Constitution.
• It is the government's thinking, we want to take this arrangement forward.
• Marking November 26 as Constitution Day is not to undermine January 26 (Republic Day).
• I had said from Red Fort earlier, and once in the House. I don't remember if any PM said the same thing from Red Fort. I had said that all governments and PMs have contributed to the nation.
• I said the same thing in the House and I say it again. This country has grown and developed due to contribution of everyone.
• This nation is made by so many people, all the governments.
• This country was not made by princes and kings, but by the people of India.
• If I say in easy language, our Constitution means 'Dignity for Indian' and 'Unity for India'.
• It must have been difficult to form a Constitution for a nation as diverse as India.
• If Constitution simply becomes a document to be followed by the government and as a tool of governance, then democracy will suffer, then it will limit the real strength Constitution. That is the reason it (Constitution) needs to reach the roots.
• To strengthen our democracy, it is important for people to know about the all aspects of our Constitution.
• From political establishment to those in opposition, everyone quotes Babasaheb Ambedkar. Every school of thought stands by what he said. Such is his greatness.
• Son of a Dalit mother, Babasaheb was insulted and ignored at every step of his life. But when the same person got the chance to make the future of India, there was no bitterness in him and it did not reflect in the Constitution as well.
• If he was like us, he could have shown animosity to the country. But he didn't. He drank all the poison and left amrit for us.
• In a democracy, consensus is what gives the greatest strength.
• We must not forget that in a democracy, we work towards welfare of the individual as well as the collective.
• There is an 'autopilot arrangement' that has helped our society to weed out evil practices.
• No one can think of changing the Constitution. If they do, I believe it is like suicide.
• Our focus must be on how our Constitution can help the Dalits, the marginalised and the poor.
• Grievance redressal systems give strength to a democracy.
• I would like to talk about idea of India, which is Satyamev Jayate; idea of India  is Ahimsa Paramo Dharma; idea of India is Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, Sarve santu niramayah, Sarve bhadrani pasyantu, Ma kashchit duhkha bhagbhavet