KATHMANDU, Aug 9: Reacting to Indian External Affairs Minister  S. Jaishankar's claim that Lord Buddha was Indian, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Sunday that it is a well-established and undeniable fact proven by historical and archaeological evidences that Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal.

"It is a well-established and undeniable fact proven by historical and archaeological evidence that Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal. Lumbini, the Birthplace of Buddha and the fountain of Buddhism, is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites," the MoFA stated in a press statement.

During a virtual event titled "India@75 Summit: Collaborating for a New Self-reliant India," on Saturday, the Indian external affairs minister made the claim that Lord Buddha was Indian. "Who are the greatest Indians ever that you can remember?" Jaishanker asked, adding, "I would say one is Gautam Buddha and the other is Mahatma Gandhi."

The ministry also recalled that Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi himself during his visit to Nepal in 2014, while addressing Nepal's Legislature Parliament, had said that "Nepal is the country where the apostle of peace in the world, Buddha, was born."

"It is true that Buddhism spread from Nepal to other parts of the world in the subsequent period. The matter remains beyond doubt and controversy and thus cannot be a subject of debate. The entire international community is aware of this," the MoFA added.  

 
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