Gangtok: Gangtok will witness a significant Peace Rally on April 26 at Zero Point, as senior tribal leader and Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia has announced his unwavering support for the demonstration.
The rally, spearheaded by the All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF), aims to amplify the call for the annulment of the Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949, advocating for the complete administrative control of the revered Mahabodhi Temple by Buddhist authorities.
Despite his inability to attend the rally in person due to health reasons, Tseten Tashi Bhutia conveyed a powerful message to fellow Dharma adherents and members of SIBLAC, underscoring the critical nature of their collective pursuit. He clarified the movement’s intent, stating unequivocally, “This movement is not against any religion. We simply assert that Buddhist temples must be managed by Buddhists, just as other religious sites are managed by their respective faiths.”
The Mahabodhi Temple, situated in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, holds immense spiritual significance as the very location where Gautama Buddha is revered to have attained enlightenment.
The governance of this sacred site has been a long-standing point of contention, with various Buddhist organisations passionately arguing that its administration should rightfully reside with a Buddhist-led body, rather than a state-endorsed committee that includes non-Buddhist members.
Highlighting the global importance of the temple, Bhutia eloquently described it as “the spiritual epicentre of Buddhist heritage,” asserting that its management framework should duly reflect this profound status. The Sikkim Chapter of the AIBF has already taken proactive steps by submitting formal memoranda to key state and national figures, earnestly imploring them to undertake a comprehensive reform of the current administrative structure governing the Mahabodhi Temple.
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