Lucknow

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said nations in the world that stand at the pinnacle today have followed the path shown by Lord Buddha, and asserted that some forces pose a continuous threat to the Constitution and democracy.

Speaking to reporters at the party office in Lucknow on Friday, on the occasion of Buddh Purnima, Yadav said, "Among the knowledge people have imparted from time to time, the greatest contribution has been that of Lord Buddha, who worked to spread his message not only within India but across the world. The nations that stand at the pinnacle today have followed the path shown by Lord Buddha. The message he delivered has brought about a change."

Addressing the audience, which also comprised 'Baudh bhikshus', Yadav said tough times are prevailing now.

"There are forces which are posing a continuous threat to the Constitution given by Babasaheb Ambedkar and to democracy. I am confident that the 'Baudh bhikshus' will bless us to be successful," he said.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also said places associated with Lord Buddha in UP, be it Lumbini, Sarnath or Kushinagar, will be developed by the Samajwadi Party (government) in the future.

This development aims to link people from the "bahujan samaj" and those following the path of Lord Buddha with the world, he said.

Speaking about the Maitreya project, Yadav said, "Some people did not want the Maitreya Project in Kushinagar, as it was a massive project."

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"When Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka and other parts of the world wanted to contribute to the initiative, the SP government had already acquired land on a large scale and compensated the farmers. If that project had been completed, people not only from the country but also from across the world would have visited and pledged to follow the path of Lord Buddha. However, under the current government, that project has been left half-finished; they did not allow it to move forward," he said.

On the Kushinagar International Airport, Yadav said, "The Kushinagar airport was started during the BSP regime, but it could not be completed. When the Samajwadi Party came (to power), we built it. Those who inaugurated only to sell (an apparent jibe at the BJP), inaugurated it but could not sell it. We assure you that the international airport will be started and an international city will be built."