We favour peace but also know how to fight: Keshav Prasad Maurya

Prayagraj: Buddha's philosophy of life inspires us towards service, compassion, and precise thinking, said deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya while unveiling the statue of Shakyamuni Tathagata Gautam Buddha at Tapovan Park, Auckland on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on Monday.

He said, "Buddha Purnima has a special significance as on this date Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and attained nirvana in the lap of nature. On this auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, may the teachings of Lord Gautam Buddha - the path of compassion, coexistence, and truth - enlighten the lives of all of us."

Maurya said that Pali language was popular during the age of Tathagata Lord Buddha, and many texts were written in Pali making it a revered language. In view of this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given equal status to Pali language like every other language, which is being welcomed.

He said that, "On the global platform of the United Nations Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the world with pride that we have given the world Buddha, not war, but this does not mean that we are coward and weak. We are in favour of peace but we also know how to fight against every situation." "The entire world witnessed when our country's soldiers drove out Pakistani intruders from India in 1999, and also the befitting reply given by our brave soldiers at the time of Uri and Pulwama incidents with surgical strikes and air strikes," he added.

"On April 22, when Pakistan-based terrorists cowardly killed innocent tourists in Pahalgam, PM Modi said that we will raze the terrorists to the ground. He gave a free hand to the Indian Army and as a result, our soldiers destroyed the terrorist camps at several places."

Maurya said, "Pakistan used to be proud of its modern weapon - the nuclear power - and even threatened India by showing it to the world. But when the Indian armed forces dropped the Brahmos missile near its nuclear power location, Pakistan started begging for a ceasefire before the world. Apart from this, the Indian army destroyed Pakistan's key security centres, radars, missiles, and drones."

He said, "Our govt is making its own modern weapons with the help of the scientists and is also selling them to many countries. We are not going to beg for the protection of the country from anyone. India knows how to protect itself and its countrymen."

Maurya said that China does not want to see India progressing because it knows that if India becomes a developed country by 2047, then it will become a poor country like Pakistan, therefore, it wants to keep India engaged in war by supporting Pakistan. But, we are neither going to stop nor bow down. We are going to move towards a developed India.

Maurya said that we have avenged the Pahalgam incident and this is a proud day of victory for all countrymen. He claimed that the war stopped only when Pakistan bowed down, but Operation Sindoor is still going on, and if Pakistan breaks the ceasefire, Indian armed forces are ready to give it a befitting reply.