Centre doing everything to develop all Buddhist heritage sites associated with India: Kiren Rijiju

New Delhi [India], November 5 : The government of India has been doing everything possible to develop all Buddhist heritage sites that India has been associated with, Union Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the two-day Asian Buddhism Summit 2024, Rijiju said Buddhism spread from India to other countries.
Noting that 21st Century is the Century of Asia, the Union Minister said, "we are living in a very interesting as well as very challenging moment of the history."
"I would also like to quote honorable Prime Minister in his first address as the Prime Minister during the Buddha Summit in 2014 when he said that India has given Buddha, not 'Yuddha' (war)." Rijiju said.
Remembering Prime Minister's quote, Rijiju said "any nation which aspires to become a leading nation, a global power, must follow the path of Buddha."
"If you follow Buddha's teachings, you will be very considerate. You will understand the values of love and compassion," the Minister said quoting PM Modi's earlier address.
"I must also mention that the government of India has been doing everything possible to develop all those Buddhist heritage sites that India has been associated with. We are very lucky to have Prime Minister Modi ji himself taking the lead long and Ministry of Culture taking every part in developing all those heritage sites connected with Lord Buddha," Rijiju said.
He also mentioned that this was the first time when President Droupadi Murmu attended the Asian Buddhism Summit.
India is hosting the first Asian Buddhist Summit today. The summit organised by International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Government of India on November 5th - 6th, 2024 in New Delhi on the theme 'Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia'.