PM Modi highlights India’s Buddhist heritage, takes a swipe at Pakistan

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government is hosting a conference on ‘Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative’ on conflict avoidance with an eye on leveraging its soft power as it looks to promote socio-cultural ties through diplomacy among countries with a common heritage.

PM Modi on Thursday inaugurated the conference which is being attended by religious and spiritual scholars from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Russia and Mongolia, besides former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Japan’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Bhutan’s finance minister and Nepalese tourism and culture minister.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a video message on the occasion saying the “aim of the symposium deeply chimes with my belief ”. The conclave will conclude with a trip to Bodhgaya on Saturday.

Modi pitched for India as a prime religious destination for tourists from these countries, hoping to further cement ties with Southeast and East Asia through a common heritage as part of his ‘Act East Policy’.

“My government is doing everything possible to give an impetus to the Buddhist heritage across India, and India is taking the lead in boosting the Buddhist heritage across Asia. This three-day meet is one such effort...You are visiting a nation that is extremely proud of its Buddhist heritage,” the PM said.

Modi cited the Hindu and Buddhist beliefs to make his pitch for drawing upon the tenets of these ancient religions to fight climate change and avert conflicts. He said ideologies should give way to dialogue to resolve conflicts.

“Intolerant non-state actors now control large territories where they are unleashing barbaric violence...The severe limitations in our conflict resolution mechanisms are becoming more and more obvious. It is, thus, no surprise that the world is taking note of Buddhism,” he said, without naming any country at the conference organised by Delhi-based Vivekananda International Foundation.