'Buddha born in Nepal': India clarifies on row over EAM Jaishankar's remarks

India on Sunday dismissed controversy over birthplace of Gautam Buddha, saying External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's remarks were "about our shared Buddhist herit" and re's " doubt" that founder of Buddhism was born in Nepal's Lumbini.

' doubt that Buddha was born in Nepal'

During a virtual event titled "India@75 Summit: Collaborating for a New Self-reliant India," organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Saturday, S Jaishankar said, "Who are greatest Indians ever that you can remember?", ding, "I would say one is Gautam Buddha and or is Mahatma Gandhi."

He was mentioning about India's moral leership and how Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi's teachings are still relevant. However, Nepalese media quoted him as saying that Buddha was an Indian.

"EAM's remarks yesterday at CII event referred to our shared Buddhist herit. re is doubt that Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, which is in Nepal," External Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in response to a media query on Jaishankar's remarks.

' entire international community is aware'

Nepal's Foreign Minister in a statement said that it is a well-established and undeniable fact proven by historical and archaeological evidence that Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal. Kathmandu's Foreign Minister also recalled that Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi himself during his visit to Nepal in 2014, while dressing Nepal's Legislature-Parliament, h said that "Nepal is country where apostle of peace in world, Buddha, was born."

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"It is true that Buddhism spre from Nepal to or parts of world in subsequent period. matter remains beyond doubt and controversy and thus cant be a subject of debate. entire international community is aware of this," Nepal ministry ded.

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Former Prime Minister and senior leer of ruling Communist Party of Nepal Mhav Kumar Nepal said alleged statement me by Jaishankar that Buddha was a great Indian is baseless and objectionable. Similarly, Nepali Congress spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma also said, "Lord Buddha was born in Nepal."

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latest row over Buddha comes against backdrop of Nepal publishing a new political map that included Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyhura, as part of Nepalese territory. Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli h in July claimed that birthplace of Lord Rama, is in Nepal and that Lord Rama was Nepali. He repeated claim mere days earlier.

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(With ncy inputs)