Future does not lie in war, but in Buddha: PM Modi

Asserting that the world today listens to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that due to the country's heritage, it is able to tell the international community that the future does not lie in war but in Buddha.

Addressing the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Bhubaneswar, Modi said India is not only the mother of democracy, but democracy is a part of people's lives here.

He said the world today listens to India, which not only presents its own views strongly but also those of the Global South.

"Due to the strength of its heritage, India is able to tell the world that the future does not lie in war, but in Buddha (peace)," he said.

Modi said he has always considered the diaspora as India's ambassador to the countries they live in.

"We consider it our responsibility to help our diaspora during crisis situations no matter where they are," he said.

The PM said the diaspora played a major role in Independence in 1947, and sought their help to make India a developed country by 2047.

He said India is not only a young country but also a country of skilled youths.

"The government is trying to ensure that whenever Indian youths go abroad, they go with skills," Modi said, noting the demand for skilled workers across the world.

He said G20 meetings were organised in various parts of the country to give the world a first-hand experience of India's diversity.

"We don't need to learn diversity because our lives run through diversity," he added.