BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has pitched for “Bharatiya Mahasangh”, an alliance of the South Asian countries on the lines of the European Union (EU) to counter the growing influence of the West.

The former Bihar deputy chief minister proposed another version of Akhand Bharat which he defined as “Bharatiya Mahasangh” while addressing a gathering to mark Samrat Ashok Jayanti at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna.

His version of Akhand Bharat was proposed to counter the West by an alliance with neigbhouring Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. “If European countries can come to the same page, why cannot there be “Bharatiya Mahasangh” incorporating South Asian countries including our neighbours.

Speaking on the occasion, Bihar Panchayati Raj Minister Samrat Chaudhary also defined Akhand Bharat as covering an area up to Iran. “Samrat Ashok’s vision of Akhand Bharat is now PM Modi’s aspiration, he shares the same dream,” the Chaudhary said.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav also attended the function in Patna.

“Participated in the program organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party on the birth anniversary of Emperor Ashoka at the Bapu Auditorium in Patna, along with the party’s eminent leaders (sic),” the BJP leader said in a tweet in Hindi.

Earlier in 2015, the Nitish Kumar government had also announced a holiday on the birth anniversary of Emperor Ashoka.