PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday met a delegation of the All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) in Patna over the ongoing Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan, which seeks greater Buddhist control over the management of the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya.
The delegation, which included AIBF Sikkim chapter convenor Ongdi Pintso, submitted a memorandum to Choudhary outlining its demands, including amendments to the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949.
The Forum has been seeking changes to the existing management structure of the temple, under which non-Buddhist members have a majority representation on the management committee.
The meeting came amid a month-long hunger strike by AIBF members as part of the movement. Following an assurance from the Chief Minister that the matter would be examined, the Forum decided to call off the hunger strike.
The AIBF, however, warned that it could resume the agitation if no concrete action was taken within a month.
The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites and is associated with the place where Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.
