Zenji Nio honored by Cabinet Minister Athawale

One of India's most powerful cabinet ministers Ramdas Athawale invited Zenji Nio to his own home for a meeting. Both Minister Athawale and Zenji Nio agree that Buddhism was the original State Religion of India and that most of the oldest and greatest treasures in Indian museums are Buddhist. Also, many of the iconic Hindu temples are actually usurped and hijacked Buddhist temples as pointed out by many authorities from Cunningham to Vivekananda. Even the Mahabodhi Temple of India and the Black Buddha of Nalanda have been taken over by Hindus. Buddhists have a duty to protect and preserve our Buddhist legacy and heritage from all others including Hindutva that want to coopt the same. Both Zenji Nio and Minister Athawale support many charities in India to assist the vulnerable but diplomacy with Hindus cannot be at the expense of the erosion of Buddhist culture, history, heritage and identity.