Mysuru: Buddhist followers in the city staged a protest in front of the new Deputy Commissioner’s office yesterday, demanding the handing over of the administration of Bodh Gaya in Bihar to Buddhists.

The Members of Buddha Vihar, All India Buddhist Forum, Best Bodhi Satva Educational and Cultural Trust and Karnataka Buddha Dhamma Samiti Federation, took out a protest rally after offering floral tributes to the statue of Buddha at Buddha Circle, Siddartha Nagar and administering the Preamble of the Constitution. They raised slogans like “Buddha Dhamma is ours’ and ‘Bodh Gaya is ours’ during the rally.

A memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister and Prime Minister was submitted to Additional Deputy Commissioner.

Former Mayor Purushotham said, as per The Bodh Gaya Temple Act 1949, Buddhists are forbidden from holding the power to manage Bodh Gaya. Hence, the management of Bodh Gaya rests with Hindus. It amounts to cheating the followers of Buddhism and Ambedkar followers. The Bodh Gaya Temple (BT) Act 1949 should be abolished to pave way for the implementation of Sections 3, 26 and 25 that provides freedom for Buddhists to manage the religious shrines.

Writer Prof. K.S. Bhagwan said, Ambedkar gifted the Constitution to build the new nation and showed the path of Buddhism for the inhabitants of the land.  However, it is condemnable that the priestly class and Brahmins were managing Bodh Gaya.

Thinker R. Mahadevappa, Chandramani Bantheji of Siddartha Buddha Vihar, writer Siddaswamy, Maleyur Somaiah, activist Chornahalli Shivanna, R. Nataraj, H. Shivaraj, M. Savakaiah, Raju Hampapura, Nisarga Siddaraju, K.M. Puttu, Harakumar, Eresh Nagarle, Dr. Jagannath, Mahadeva Swamy, Puttaswamy, Govindaraju, Pallavi, Antarasanthe Manchaiah, Roopesh, Puneeth, Vijaykumar and Sachin were present.