Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who’s a follower of Buddhism, lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week for his alleged indifference in the direction of the faith. In an interview with Information 24, he questioned the PM’s religion in Buddhism.
“Buddha is taken into account because the ninth avatar of Vishnu. He (PM Modi) doesn’t let Buddha come shut. In Uttarakhand, there’s a legislation that if somebody needs to transform to Buddhism, he must go to the district Justice of the Peace. Buddhism was established in India, however you (PM Modi) don’t consider in it,” Kharge stated.
However authorities sources counsel that is removed from the reality. They cite an extended checklist of measures taken by the Prime Minister that present his respect for Buddhism.
The primary International Buddhist Summit was organised by the Modi authorities in April 2023. “Platforms like IBC (Worldwide Buddhist Confederation) are giving the chance to like-minded and like-hearted nations to unfold Buddha Dhamma and peace,” he stated on the occasion final yr.
Authorities sources additionally cited the event of Buddhist circuits as one other measure. “The Modi authorities has labored to take the Buddha’s teachings to the folks. The Buddhist circuit is one such step. It connects varied locations related with the lifetime of Lord Buddha. This additionally promotes Buddhist tourism,” stated an official.
Higher connectivity for pilgrims from India and overseas with the event of the Kushinagar Worldwide Airport is one other occasion. PM Modi in 2021 inaugurated the airport in an space the place Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana. Kushinagar Worldwide Airport is a tribute to the devotion of Buddhist society all over the world.
Be it PM Modi laying the inspiration stone of the India Worldwide Centre for Buddhist Tradition & Heritage at Lumbini or his efforts so as to add Vadnagar to the UNESCO World Heritage Websites checklist, the intent has been very clear, stated authorities sources.
In a particular gesture, the holy relics of Lord Buddha had been taken from India to Mongolia for an exposition. Equally, the holy relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples had been despatched to Thailand for a 26-day exposition. The relics had been acquired with reverence and a grand ceremony in Bangkok.
Monetary help was given to varied Buddhist establishments for the promotion and preservation of Buddhist heritage in India in addition to overseas.
Narendra Modi ensured particular occasions like Vesak Purnima, Ashadha Purnima, and Abhidhamma Day had been organised to additional promote Buddhism, officers stated.
Answering Kharge’s political allegations, authorities sources identified how the PM gifted a sapling from the Bodhi Tree on the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya to Nepal. In a particular gesture, he additionally gifted a sapling of the Bal Bodhi tree to Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.
The Buddha Purnima Specific particular prepare has additionally been began by the Modi authorities to facilitate journey inside the Buddhist circuit. The Modi authorities has rejuvenated pilgrimage centres similar to Sarnath and Kushinagar too. The inspiration stone of an India Worldwide Centre for Buddhist Tradition and Heritage at Lumbini was additionally laid in Might 2022.
Speaking about taking Buddhism to the world, Modi talked about Buddha in a UN Common Meeting speech in September 2019. “We belong to a rustic that has given the world ‘not Yuddh however ‘Buddh’,” he stated. In one other occasion, he and Khaltmaagiin Battulga, President of Mongolia, collectively unveiled a statue of Lord Buddha and his two disciples, put in on the historic Gandan Tegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar in 2019.
No matter Kharge’s cost in opposition to the Prime Minister, Modi’s actions communicate louder than phrases, stated authorities sources. No marvel, Buddhist neighborhood leaders too have come out and condemned the Congress president’s try to make use of Buddhism for political functions.
Bhante Sanghpriya Rahul, who’s the president of Bhartiya Baudh Sangh, stated, “Mallikarjun Kharge’s comment is condemnable. For the primary time in 2014, PM Modi celebrated the delivery anniversary of Lord Buddha at Talkatora Stadium, which was the primary time after Independence {that a} Prime Minister did this. When he was Gujarat’s chief minister, he had a statue of Buddha contained in the meeting and likewise on the CM’s residence. I wish to ask Mallikarjun Kharge, when Manmohan Singh’s authorities was in energy, why did you not take note of Buddha, why did you not have fun Buddha?”
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