Gorakhpur, Sep 15 (Reporter) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday that the strength of Indian democracy lies in the protection of our Constitution and it is the collective responsibility of every citizen to do so by rising above divisions of caste, creed, religion, and region. He made these remarks while presiding over the inaugural conference on 'India as the Mother of Democracy,' which is a part of a series of discussions on contemporary issues held to mark the 55th death anniversary of Yugpurush Brahmaleen Mahant Digvijaynath Maharaj and the 10th death anniversary of Rashtrasant Brahmaleen Mahant Avedyanath Maharaj. Adityanath said that at a time when much of the world lacked a strong emphasis on civilization, culture and human values, India was flourishing in all these areas. The CM said, "From ancient times to the present, Indian civilization has been deeply rooted in democratic principles. The Rishi tradition emphasised the principle of 'Live and Let Live,' a true form of democracy, one that originated in India." "Unlike other cultures that sought to conquer or dominate, India's ethos has always been one of inclusivity, captured in the timeless philosophy of 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah' (May all be happy). This spirit is reflected today in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," the Chief Minister said. Congratulating the chief guest, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Adityanath said, "The evidence of democratic values can be found in India from the Vedic period through the Ramayana and Mahabharata eras. In Indian democracy, the people's voice and interests have always been of utmost importance. The Indian tradition has long upheld the belief that the king is responsible for the well-being of the people." He said, "During the Ramayana era, Lord Ram prioritised the people's voice and Lord Krishna oversaw governance through a council of elders. When internal strife broke out in Dwarka, leading to the demise of the council members, Lord Krishna remarked that the laws of the state apply equally to all citizens." The CM expressed concern over the fact that a mindset of slavery still prevails among some people in the country, despite India's deep democratic roots that date back to ancient times. "India lost its freedom when it failed to safeguard its democratic heritage," he said. He said, "In ancient India, councils representing the people had the authority to remove autocratic kings, underscoring that in a true democracy, the welfare of the people is paramount. He cited the Vaishali Republic as a prime example from ancient history, where the entire governance system was dedicated to the people's interests. Yogi said, "Today, all Indians should take pride in their democracy and the nation's rapidly growing economy, which is built on democratic values." He stressed that the strength of our democracy lies in the protection of our Constitution. "It is the collective responsibility of every citizen to safeguard the Constitution with sincerity and rise above divisions of caste, creed, religion, and region", he said. The CM said that by upholding the highest respect for the Constitution, India can ensure a stronger democracy. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said that the principles of democracy have been shaped by India's 5,000-year-old values. He highlighted that the true democracy today is deeply rooted in Indian traditions and values. Harivansh said, "The essence of democracy lies in the freedom to express one’s views openly, a principle deeply rooted in thousands of years of Indian tradition. Indian democracy provides people with full freedom, along with the ability to correct its flaws." He said that those influenced by Western ideals have mistakenly viewed Indian democracy as an imported concept, largely because of the habit of looking to Greece for inspiration. He pointed out that when India gained independence, many foreign scholars doubted the survival of democracy in the country. He said, "However, today, India stands ready to prove them wrong, as next year marks the Amrit Year of the implementation of the Constitution...////...