India

Ramdas Athawale Meets Nitish Kumar; Demands Repeal Of Mahabodhi Temple Act

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and Republican Party of India (RPI) President Ramdas Athawale met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna, urging the immediate repeal of the Mahabodhi Temple Act.

Following the meeting, Athawale stated that Kumar gave a positive assurance regarding the demand.

Athawale reaffirmed his full support for the ongoing movement by Buddhist monks demanding the liberation of Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya.

He highlighted that monks and nuns from across India are arriving in Bodh Gaya to participate in the protest to protect the legacy of Lord Buddha.

Athawale emphasized that only Buddhist individuals should hold key positions such as President and Secretary of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Trust.

He insisted that all trust members should be Buddhists. The RPI has strongly demanded that the Bihar Legislative Assembly repeal the Mahabodhi Temple Act to facilitate this transition.

To push for the repeal of the Act, Athawale announced that RPI will hold a strong protest in Delhi. He also declared an immediate financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to support the movement.

Athawale recalled that his party has supported the Mahabodhi liberation movement since Bhadant Nagarjuna Surai Susai initiated it.

He stressed that Buddhism promotes human rights, dignity, and equality, making it a vital path for Dalit empowerment.

Athawale reaffirmed his commitment to bringing the Mahabodhi Mahavihara under full Buddhist control.

The event saw participation from several monks, including Venerable Akash Lama, alongside key RPI leaders such as Shiv Mishra, Vijay Gupta, Prakash Jadhav, and Subodh Bharat.

Also Read: Indian Government Approves World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan To Strengthen Agricultural Infrastructure

Richa Kaushik

Recent Posts

India & Central Asia Boost Rare Earth Cooperation At Delhi Meet

India and five Central Asian nations have agreed to deepen cooperation on rare earths and…

8 mins ago

PM Modi’s Beej Se Bazaar Tak Vision Reshapes Indian Agriculture

Prime Minister Modi has redefined Indian agriculture with the ‘Beej Se Bazaar Tak’ vision, transforming…

33 mins ago

EV Sales Cross 4% Mark In May; Signalling Steady Shift To Green Mobility

EV sales topped 4% of passenger vehicle retail in May 2025, signalling growing demand for…

54 mins ago

Self-Reliant Defence Industry Marks India’s Strategic Security Ascent

One year into Modi 3.0, reforms have reduced poverty, strengthened defence, and accelerated the digital…

1 hour ago

Survey Shows Over 88% Indians Trust PM Modi On National Interest & Security

A recent News18 survey reveals that more than 88 per cent of Indians trust Prime…

2 hours ago

PM Modi: NDA Government Has Redefined Women-Led Development Over 11 Years

Marking 11 years of the NDA govt at the Centre, PM Modi stated that women-led…

2 hours ago