Athawale Pushes for Buddhist Control Over Bodh Gaya Temple

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale urges Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to support Buddhists' demand for control of Bodh Gaya temple. Athawale advocates repealing the Mahabodhi Temple Act, asserting management should be exclusive to Buddhists to end 45-day protest.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, leading the Republican Party of India (Athawale), has called on Bihar's Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, to address ongoing protests by Buddhists in Bodh Gaya. Demonstrators are insisting that control over the holy temple should be handed exclusively to Buddhists, excluding other religions from the temple trust.

Speaking to reporters, Athawale conveyed his message to CM Kumar, emphasizing the protesters' stance that if Buddhists are not involved in other religious trusts, non-Buddhists should similarly be barred from theirs. He stressed the urgency of resolving the issue, highlighting a 45-day fasting protest by the Buddhists.

Athawale reiterated his demand to repeal the Mahabodhi Temple Act of 1949, seeking the exclusive appointment of Buddhists to the Mahabodhi Mahavihar Trust. He also expressed confidence in CM Kumar's electoral success, citing support from PM Narendra Modi and pledging his party's backing for Kumar's potential sixth term.

(With inputs from agencies.)