Northeast Desk, 26th November: Monks from diverse Buddhist organizations in Sikkim participated in a peace rally organized by the All India Buddhist Forum in Bodh Gaya today, expressing concerns about the composition of the temple committee.
The protesting monks are urging the repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) Act of 1949, highlighting perceived injustice due to insufficient representation within the committee. They are calling for an amendment to the 1949 Act, advocating for an increase in the number of Buddhists on the Committee and the transfer of temple management to Buddhists. Despite their demands, there has been no response.
Section 3(3) of the Act designates the District Magistrate (DM) as the ex-officio chairman of the temple committee, mandating that the DM must be a Hindu.
The core issue revolves around the revelation that, out of the nine committee members, only four belong to the Buddhist community.
Ongdi Pintso Bhutia, the Sikkim Convenor of the All India Buddhist Forum, decried this as a significant injustice. The BTMC, responsible for overseeing the Bodh Gaya Temple, has become a focal point for the broader Buddhist community, seeking fair representation and a meaningful role in decision-making. Bhutia emphasized their support for this demand, leading them to participate in the peace rally.
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