GORAKHPUR, Jan. 30 -- Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Friday asserted that the Uttar Pradesh government would make all necessary efforts to ensure the preservation of 331 priceless Buddhist relics discovered at the historic Piprahwa archaeological site.

Calling the relics an inseparable part of the region's cultural identity, Maurya said their protection and display at the State Buddhist Museum in Kapilvastu would help establish Piprahwa as a prominent destination on the global Buddhist tourism map.

Addressing the Siddharth Nagar Mahotsav, the deputy chief minister described the relics as an "integral part of Piprahwa's heritage, rights, and legacy." He emphasised that "every possible effort will be made to bring the 331 r...