LBA, All India Buddhist Forum Discuss Bodhgaya Temple Issue In Leh

By Rinchen Angmo Chumikchan

Leh, Ladakh: The Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), in collaboration with the All India Buddhist Forum, held a press conference on Wednesday at the LBA office in Leh to highlight the ongoing nationwide movement demanding exclusive Buddhist control over the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodhgaya.

Led by Akash Lama, general secretary of the Forum and a prominent face of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan, the movement has gained widespread support across the Himalayan region. Lama arrived in Ladakh earlier today along with his supporters to garner solidarity for the cause, ahead of a planned dharna in Delhi later this month.

Welcoming him, Chering Dorje Lakrook, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) said that Lama has played a vital role in safeguarding Bodhgaya Temple from external influences and has brought together people from across the country under the banner of the All India Buddhist Forum. He acknowledged that many Ladakhis have already participated in the movement during past rallies held in Bodhgaya, despite challenges like the region’s distance and the intense summer heat.

Chering Dorje announced that on July 17, a public talk will be held at Chubi Community Hall at 3:00 pm, where Lama and members of the All India Buddhist Forum will speak about the future of the movement, its goals and the responsibilities of Himalayan communities in supporting it. He urged the people of Ladakh to attend in large numbers, emphasising the historical and spiritual significance of Bodhgaya for the Buddhist community.

“There is no doubt that Bodhgaya belongs to Buddhists. The foundation of this sacred site was laid by Emperor Ashoka,” he said, reiterating the importance of continuing this movement and uniting for its cause.

Lama said, “The people of Ladakh have been associated with this movement for the past three years. Ladakh Buddhist Association is one such unique organisation in India that brings together all sections of society, social, religious, and political, especially in the context of Ladakh. When we organised the Shanti Rally in Bodhgaya on November 26, 2023, the Ladakh Buddhist Association played an important role and many people from Ladakh participated in the rally.”

Recalling the origins of the campaign, Lama noted that it began three years ago with the goal of freeing the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodhgaya from the control of non-Buddhist authorities. He highlighted the significance of the Shanti Rally held on Constitution Day, November 26, 2024, in Bodhgaya, which saw the participation of over 50,000 Buddhists from 22 states across India. Among them were many monks, head lamas and devotees from Ladakh, under the banner of the LBA.

Continuing the momentum, another major rally was held on September 17, 2024, in Patna, where once again the people of Ladakh and the LBA stood in solidarity with the cause. Since February 12, 2025, the movement has intensified, with a renewed call to repeal the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) Act of 1949. Lama emphasised that Mahabodhi Mahavihara is a sacred site for Buddhists worldwide, yet the temple continues to be governed under a pre-Independence-era law that undermines the religious rights of the Buddhist community.

He pointed out a constitutional contradiction, stating that even though India's Constitution came into effect on November 26, 1950 and Article 13 clearly invalidates any pre-constitutional laws that contradict fundamental rights, the BTMC Act of 1949 still remains in force. Under the current law, the temple’s management committee comprises nine members, of whom only four are Buddhists. Lama strongly objected to this arrangement, calling it discriminatory.

He said, “This kind of system would never be acceptable for any other faith. The management of a mosque is in the hands of Muslims, a Hindu temple is managed by Hindus and a church by Christians, then why is a sacred Buddhist temple not managed solely by Buddhists?”

He reiterated the movement’s primary demand that the BTMC Act of 1949 be repealed and the entire management committee, including the chairman, be composed exclusively of Buddhists. He called upon the public and the government to support this rightful claim and restore full custodianship of Mahabodhi Mahavihara to the Buddhist community.

Reflecting on the earlier attempts to reclaim Buddhist control over the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, Lama recalled that in 1991, a Japanese monk named Bhante Suresh had initiated a similar movement, joined by Bhante Karuna. However, the movement eventually lost momentum, primarily due to the absence of social media and limited public awareness at the time. As a result, while a Buddhist Secretary was appointed to the temple committee, the core demand of full management control by Buddhists was never fulfilled.

Despite numerous representations to the government and an active movement over the past three years, Lama expressed disappointment at the government's inaction. “Even after countless letters and peaceful protests, our voices remain unheard,” he said.

Marking a grave milestone, Lama informed that today is the 155th day of the hunger strike being observed in Bodhgaya since February 12, 2025. He recounted how the movement had briefly established a presence near the Mahabodhi Temple, but within 15 days, they were forced to vacate the premises. Even after an assurance from the home secretary of Bihar that the matter would be resolved within 10 days, several monks were arrested at midnight, further deepening the community’s dismay.

Lama shared that from June 1, the team launched public meetings in a series of cities including Nagpur, Bhandara, Pune, Bhopal, Raipur, Delhi, Agra, Jhansi, Badaun, Sankissa, Bengal, Malda, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The current and fourth round of the campaign is taking place in Ladakh and Noida.

Calling for unity, Lama appealed to the people of Ladakh to come together and support the movement for Buddhist rights. He made it clear that the movement is not against any religion or caste but is about rightful representation and justice.

“If some people believe that Lord Buddha is an avatar of Vishnu, that is their belief but we do not accept that. Also, it is not mentioned in any of our scriptures. If this belief is to be respected, then show us Buddha’s statue in a Vishnu temple or include our lamas and bhantes in their temple committees,” he added.

Lama emphasised that the demand for Buddhist management of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara is constitutionally valid under Articles 25 to 29 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee the freedom of religion and the right to manage religious affairs.

Lama urged people to understand that this movement is not the struggle of a single individual or an organisation, but a collective fight for the rights of the entire Buddhist community. He recalled that as early as 2012, Bhante Suresh had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court, seeking rightful control over the Mahabodhi Mahavihara. However, the petition is still pending and no hearing has taken place.

He said the movement is now entering a crucial phase, with a peaceful dharna planned on July 25 and 26 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He invited and requested the people of Ladakh to join in solidarity during this critical moment.

“This time, the entire Himalayan belt will participate. Even if something happens to me tomorrow, this movement must not stop. It should continue until the Mahabodhi Mahavihara is freed. We will carry this forward peacefully, but never stop,” he said

Earlier, Jigmet Rafstan, president, Ladakh Buddhist Association, Wing conveyed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the people and Buddhists of Ladakh to those who have been actively working to safeguard the Buddhist religion and protect the sanctity of the Mahabodhi Temple.

“We have extended our full support and have also sent our members and executive representatives to Bodhgaya to participate in the movement,” he said, reaffirming Ladakh’s commitment to the broader Buddhist struggle for rightful representation and religious preservation.