HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, May 14: The Federation of Barua Buddhist Welfare Association of Assam (FBBWAA) has strongly condemned the recent incident at the sacred Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, where a Buddhist monk, Bhikkhu Vinacharya, was allegedly assaulted by fringe elements during Buddha Jayanti celebrations. The monk has since gone missing, sparking outrage and concern among Buddhist communities across the country.
Addressing the media, Subash Barua, Chairman of the FBBWAA, and Secretary General Shibu Talukdar criticized the Bihar Government and state police for their failure to locate the missing monk and ensure the safety of Buddhist pilgrims at one of their holiest sites.
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The leaders reiterated their long-standing opposition to the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) Act of 1949, under which non-Buddhist individuals are permitted to control the management of the Mahabodhi Temple. They argued that the act is “illegal and unconstitutional” and demanded full control of the temple be returned to the Buddhist community.
“Bodh Gaya is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for Buddhists worldwide. Unfortunately, some vested non-Buddhist interests, with the support of fringe elements, have taken control of the sanctity of the site and are now trying to obstruct the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Mukti Andolan (MMMA),” said Shibu Talukdar.
He further claimed that Bhikkhu Vinacharya, a monk associated with the MMMA, was assaulted during the protests and has been missing since the incident. “The silence of the authorities raises serious questions about the commitment of the Bihar Government to protect the sanctity of Buddhist sites,” Talukdar added.
The FBBWAA has issued an appeal to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the Bihar Director General of Police to immediately investigate the matter, locate the missing monk, and take strict action against those responsible for the violence.
“If our demands are not met, we will be compelled to raise this issue at the international level, including at the United Nations headquarters in New York,” warned Talukdar.
The incident has reignited a decades-old demand for the liberation of the Mahabodhi Temple from non-Buddhist control, with Buddhist organizations across India rallying in support of the MMMA’s cause.
