Narendra Modi invokes Hsuan-Tsang to connect with Buddhists of Varanasi, Sarnath

Varanasi: Aiming to connect with Buddhists of Varanasi-Sarnath region, Narendra Modi on Thursday said ancient Chinese traveller Hsuan-Tsang had visited his birthplace at Vadnagar in Gujarat.

Modi, before filing his nomination from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat today, said that Chinese traveller Hsuan-Tsang had visited his birth place at Vadnagar, which he claimed was a place bustling with Buddhists at that time. "People used to believe that Buddhism existed only in the East, but my village testifies that it was prevalent in the West also. So my affinity towards Buddhism is connected to my birth," the BJP`s Prime Ministerial candidate said. He described Baroda (Vadodara) as his `karyakshetra` (work place) and said that it was Maharaja of Baroda who had helped architect of Indian Constitution Dr B R Ambedkar to pursue education abroad. The Gujarat Chief Minister spoke about the `Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb` (culture) of the area and prayed for strength so that he can work for the people, and so that `Kashi` (Varanasi) becomes a spiritual capital of the world.