NaMo celebrates Buddha Purnima in a big way!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Lord Buddha influenced more people than anyone else in his lifetime, emphasizing that his teachings alone could lead the war-ravaged world away from violence and offer a way out of the crises facing the global community even as he declared himself to be a long-time believer of Buddha.
Speaking at an official function to mark Buddha Purnima, Modi also said Buddha was the reason why the 21st century would be the century of Asia's domination.
Making a special reference to Nepal, the land of Buddha's birth, the Prime Minister said the country was dealing with a huge challenge after the earthquake.
“Buddha's message of compassion should inspire us to share Nepal's sorrow and grief,“ he said while praying to Buddha to “give Nepal the strength to deal with the unprecedented crisis“.
The speech marked a major outreach to the Buddhist community globally and back at home. This was the first time that an official function was organized on such a scale to mark the day when Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and passed away , and Modi seemed to go to extraordinary lengths to show his reverence to him.
Modi emphasized that as chief minister of Gujarat, he had placed giant Buddha statues both at the CM's office and residence. In fact, he quipped that his critics had not paid attention to his admiration for Buddha or else “I would have been skinned“. It was not clear who he was referring to: those who consider him to be a fanatic Hindu who could not bring himself to worship Buddha even as a member of the extended Hindu pantheon, or others.
But he was unambiguous as he launched into Buddha's praise. “The world is discussing that the 21st century would be Asia's century ...(though) there may be differences over which Asian country the 21st century shall belong to... but an aspect possibly overlooked by those having this vision is that Buddha's way is the sole reason why the 21st century will belong to Asia. He will also be the reason why Asia will inspire the world to move away from violence and spread a message of love and compassion, leading the world out of the crises that it faces,“ Modi told delegates at the first-of-its-kind, grand event here to commemorate International Buddha Purnima Diwas.