The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Hand over Mahabodhi Temple to Buddhists’

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Friday, Apr 25, 2008
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New Delhi

‘Hand over Mahabodhi Temple to Buddhists’

Staff Reporter

UPA urged to amend Act to safeguard community’s interests

NEW DELHI: Delhi Assembly Speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh has appealed to ruling United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to have the Mahabodhi Vihar Act, 1949, amended for safeguarding and protecting the interests of the Buddhists so that they are able to run and control the historic Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya that was established by Emperor Ashoka and where Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment 2,500 years ago.

Mr. Singh said a delegation of the Boddha Gaya Mahabodhi Vihar All-India Action Committee met him and submitted a detailed memorandum appealing for immediate restoration of the rights with regard to the management of the Mahabodhi Temple to Buddhist.

The Speaker said the Action Committee stated that the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, provides for setting up a committee of nine members comprising four Hindus, four Buddhists and an ex-officio chairman in the District Magistrate of Gaya District. Stating that the Act also explicitly provides that the chairman must be a Hindu, thereby making Hindus the majority in the committee, the Speaker has demanded an amendment to the Act to “safeguard the interests of the Buddhists”.

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