Lotus at Toji temple amuses Prime Minister Narendra Modi

KYOTO: When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Toji temple here this morning, a lotus attached to a statue of Lord Buddha stood out, much to his amusement.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was accompanying Modi during the tour of the ancient temple, wanted to explain the significance of the lotus.

He started detailing the significance and was midway when an amused Modi pointed out that he knows about it. "I know its significance. It is the symbol of my party (BJP)," he told Abe and both had a laugh.

Modi did not elaborate but during the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, he left no stone unturned in advertising the symbol. In the end, BJP got a landslide victory in the elections.