Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that anti-Emergency movement had strengthened Indian democracy.

Speaking on the occasion of Jayaprakash Narayan's 113th birth anniversary in the national capital the PM said, “We need not cry while remembering Emergency. Lets talk about how the anti-Emergency movement strengthened democracy.”

“JP Movement, Navnirman Movement, Emergency, they gave birth to a new kind of politics in the nation,” PM Modi pointed out, adding, “JP was a person with an open mind. He was not restricted to one thought or ideology. He lived for the truth and what he felt was right.”

“In 1977 polls top leadership was in jail. No one knew what was happening but see the strength of people and their respect for democracy. Leadership born during Emergency was not one for TV screens. It was a leadership to live and die for the Nation,” PM further said.

“The political generation born during the Emergency was fully dedicated to democratic values, inspired by JP. JP was a person with an open mind. He was not restricted to one thought or ideology. He lived for the truth and what he felt was right,” he observed.

To the fourth estate, the PM said, “India's media might have its preferences but it should never let people of this country forget the days of emergency period,” as per ANI, adding, “We don't want to remember emergency to criticize someone, but to constantly be reminded of commitment towards democracy and freedom of press.”

So many people in politics today owe their initial days to those days of Emergency, JP Movement. A new political generation was born: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2015

The political generation born during the Emergency was fully dedicated to democratic values, inspired by JP: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2015

JP was a person with an open mind. He was not restricted to one thought or ideology. He lived for the truth & what he felt was right: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2015

We need not cry while remembering Emergency. Lets talk about how the anti-Emergency movement strengthened democracy: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2015

In 1977 polls top leadership was in jail. No one knew what was happening but see the strength of people & their respect for democracy: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2015

Leadership born during Emergency was not one for TV screens. It was a leadership to live and die for the Nation: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 11, 2015

Earlier the PM had tweeted: "I salute the venerable Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary."

I salute the venerable Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary. pic.twitter.com/yWNsV1cSH2 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2015

(With Agency inputs)