Conflict arises when radicals force ideologies on others: Modi

The PM was speaking to delegates of Hindu-Buddhist conference at the Maha Bodhi Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said while there is no problem in practising one's religion, the potential for conflict arises when radical elements try to force their own ideologies on others.

Speaking to delegates of a Hindu-Buddhist conference at the Maha Bodhi Temple here, he said scholars of the two religions, who attended the just-concluded deliberations in Delhi, have also promised to deepen the notion of conflict avoidance philosophy and environmental consciousness in Asia and beyond.

"The two day conference seems to have arrived at a broad consensus on both issues. On the issue of conflicts--most of which are being driven by religious intolerance--the participants in the conference seem to have agreed that while there is no problem about the freedom to practise one's religion, it is when the radical elements try to force their own ideologies on others, that the potential for conflict arises," he said.

Modi said the themes of the conference, informed and shaped by the Hindu-Buddhist civilisational and cultural perspectives, promise to deepen the notion of conflict avoidance, philsophy and environmental consciousness in Asia and beyond.

The Delhi conference was hosted by Vivekananda International Foundation and Tokyo Foundation with support of International Buddhist Confederation and concluded in Delhi two days ago.

"This is an extraordinary development which coincides with the rise of Asia as an economic and civilisational phenomenon," he said citing the decision of the two-day conference to hold similar conferences in other Buddhist nations including the one by the Tokyo Foundation in January next year.