Gadchiroli Mrch 1 (District Correspondent) A massive dharna agitation was held by Bouddha Mahasabha and other Ambedkrite organizations of the city this afternoon to support the ongoing hunger strike of venerable Buddhist monks in Bodh Gaya to press the demand of handing over the Mahabodhi Mahavihar to Buddhists and amending the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Act 1949.
A large number of Buddhist followers and activists of Bouddha Mahasabha assembled at Indira Gandhi Square of the city and shouted slogans in support of their demand. Many workers spoke during the agitation and expressed their disappointment over the control of the Bodh Gaya Buddha Vihar by the non-Buddhists. They strongly demanded that the said Buddha Vihara be handed over to the Buddhist monks immediately. The agitation will be intensified further if the demand is not fulfilled by the government, it was warned.
A written memorandum addressed to the President of India was then submitted to the Police Station Incharge of Gadchiroli Mr. Sinjangude who assured to send it to the office of the President of India.
This Buddha Vihara which is most revered all over the world is not in the possession of the Buddhists and its management is controlled by the non-Buddhist persons as per the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Act, is a grave injustice with the Buddhists. This Act, therefore should be amended urgently and its entire management be handed over the Buddhist monks, demanded the memorandum.
Mr. Tularam Raut, District President of Bhartiya Bouddha Mahasabha, Rohidas Raut of Republican Party, Gautam Meshram of Sanvidhan Foundation, Milind Bambode of BRSP, Prof. Prakash Dudhe, Hansraj Undirwade of All India Republican Party, Prof. Gautam Dange of BBM, Dewanand Fulzele, Bandubhau Khobragade of Prabuddha Vichar Manch, Surekha Barsagade, Amarkumar Khandare, Nagsen Khobragade, Dewaji Bhaisare and Namdev Undirwade of Samta Sainik Dal, Shobha Khobragade, Lahuji Ramteke, Rajkumar Ghodeswar, Sumitra Raut, Neeta Sahare, Pradeep Bhaisare, Balkrishna Bambode, Sudhir Walde, Jyoti Undirwade, Sukhdev Wasnik, Shishupal Shendre, Bhojraj Kanhekar, Jagan Jambhulkar, Suresh Barsagade, Machhindra Wankar, Ramesh Dongre, Siddharth Khobragade, Narendra Raipure, Uma Bansod, Dnyanoday Walke, Archana Ramteke, Vijay Dewtale, Pratima Janbandhu, Usha Bhanarkar and many others participated in this agitation.
The office bearers of various Buddha Viharas and Ambedkarite organizations in the city participated in this agitation in large numbers.
