Varanasi: Buddhist monks in Varanasi blessed and praised Prime Minister Modi, referring to him as a "Buddhist patron," news agency ANI reported.

Varanasi, Modi's parliamentary constituency, is where he is seeking a third consecutive term.

The constituency will vote on June 1, during the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Dr. Sumedh Thero, a Buddhist monk from Sarnath, Varanasi, told ANI that the Prime Minister has carried out "unprecedented" developmental works in areas connected to Lord Buddha's life.

"Whole of the Buddhist society believes that PM Modi is a Buddhist patron. In the last 10 years, as a Buddhist patron, he has made unprecedented developments in places linked to Lord Buddha, like Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar, Sarnath, Kaushambi, Rajgir and Vaishali. He made roads, railway station and airports; earlier developments like this never happened. That is why people from all corners of the world are coming here for pilgrimage and to bless PM Modi," said the Buddhist monk while speaking to ANI.

Buddhist monks also prayed for the Prime Minister's good health and longevity.

"He is giving respect to every caste, community and religion. That's why we believe that such a leader has come after 1000 years and ruling with the concept of four novel truths. Therefore, we appreciate on behalf of World Buddhist Community and all Buddhist temples and monasteries his novel works and we pray for him to live long over 100 years," the Buddhist monk added.

Earlier, Buddhist community leaders voiced their support for PM Modi following Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge's remark about PM Modi's "faith" in Buddhism.

Kharge had questioned Modi's "faith" in Buddhism. Monk Sheelratan of the International Buddhist Research Institute had called the comments made by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge as “baseless and wrong” regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “faith” in Buddhism.

Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, founder and president of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his efforts on behalf of the Buddhist community in India, stating that no other government has supported the Buddhist cause in India as much.

"I want to express my sincere gratitude to PM Narendra Modi in my capacity for what he has done for the Buddhist people in India. I don't remember how many PMs and governments earlier supported the Buddhist cause in India. PM Modi has done a lot for Buddhism," he said.

"He has laid the foundation stone of the International Buddhist Centre in Lumbini and has given us a special flight to take Buddha relics to different countries like Thailand. Wherever he goes, he talks about Buddhism. In the United Nations, he said, 'Bharat ne duniya ko Buddha diya hai, yuddh nahi', "Sanghasena added.