A correspondent
MARGHERITA: The Federation of Barua Buddhist Welfare Association of Assam (FBBWAA) has strongly condemned the Bihar Police’s action on February 28, when Buddhist monks were forcefully removed from their hunger strike site at Bodh Gaya.
In a press communiqué, FBBWAA president Subash Baruah and secretary-general Sibu Talukdar criticized the move, calling it an act of “cowardice and inhumanity.” They demanded strict action against the police officials involved and urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Union Home Minister to intervene.
Sibu Talukdar highlighted that Bodh Gaya is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for Buddhists worldwide, as it is the sacred place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. He stated that since February 12, Buddhist monks from across the country had been peacefully participating in an indefinite hunger strike at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara. The protest was in support of the long-standing demand to repeal the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949 and amend the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Act.
He further alleged that the shrine has been occupied by Hindu Brahmins, which has been a point of contention for the Buddhist community for decades. The FBBWAA has reiterated its demand for the complete handover of the Bodh Gaya Temple’s management to the Buddhist community.
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