Mumbai, Oct 9 (FN Agency) Maharashtra Minister for Cultural Affairs, Sudhir Munganttiwar, on Sunday expressed the belief that the friendship between India and Japan will grow stronger under able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Speaking at inaugural function of ‘India Mela’, an event organised to promote art and food culture between India and Japan, in Kobe, Japan, he said that India and Japan will strengthen the camaraderie and friendship between two countries and together they will reach new heights of progress.
Noting that India has always maintained friendly relations with Japan, Mungantiwar said that from a spiritual point of view, the two countries have had a love affair. Buddhism has travelled to Japan from India with the message of ‘Yuddh nako, Buddha hava’ meaning ‘Jiyo aur Jine Do’, the minister said and pointed that Japan has consistently tried to convey this idea to every home in that country. It is the country that supported Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who fought for the country during the pre-independence period of India, he said.The temple of Subhash Chandra Bose in Tokyo is a testimony to this, added Munganttiwar.