Ramdas Athawale Meets Amit Shah; Seeks Buddhist Management Of Bodh Gaya Mahabodhi Mahavihara

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and Republican Party of India (RPI) president Ramdas Athawale met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on September 12, urging the Centre to hand over the management of Bodh Gaya’s Mahabodhi Mahavihara to the Buddhist community.

Athawale led a delegation of Buddhist monks, including Bhante Karunanand Mahathero, Bhante Dr Rahul Bodhi Mahathero, Bhante Jyoti Thero and Bhante Anand, to Shah’s residence for discussions on the issue.

Athawale said the Mahabodhi Mahavihara is the sacred site where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment and remains one of the most important places of Buddhist faith worldwide. He argued that its management and trust should be placed entirely under the Buddhist community.

The Minister said Buddhists across the country want the chairman and all trustees of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara to be followers of Buddhism. He stressed that the demand did not oppose any religion but sought to place the sacred site under Buddhist management.

The delegation called for amendments to the Mahabodhi Vihara Temple Act, 1949, passed by the Bihar Assembly, to facilitate the proposed change in management.

During the meeting, the delegation discussed the Mahabodhi Mahavihara’s history, existing management structure and the long-standing demands of the Buddhist community.

Shah assured the delegation that the government would examine the matter’s historical and legal aspects before making an appropriate decision.

Athawale had previously raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought a meeting with representatives of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara liberation movement.

आज नवी दिल्ली येथे बौद्ध भिक्खूंच्या शिष्टमंडळासह केंद्रीय गृहमंत्री मा. अमित शाह जी यांची भेट घेतली.

बुद्धगया येथील महाबोधी महाविहार हे जगभरातील बौद्धांचे सर्वोच्च श्रद्धास्थान आहे. महाबोधी महाविहारच्या व्यवस्थापनातील चेअरमन व सर्व विश्वस्त बौद्ध धर्मीय असावेत, ही देशभरातील… pic.twitter.com/pp4fGfRQ7f

— Ramdas Athawale (@RamdasAthawale) September 12, 2026

Following the Prime Minister’s advice, the Buddhist delegation met Shah to discuss the matter.

Athawale expressed hope that the Centre would consider the sentiments of the Buddhist community and take positive steps towards resolving the issue.

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