New Delhi / Patna : Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) leader Upendra Kushwaha has called for the removal of Hindus from the Bodh Gaya Temple Trust, aligning himself with a demand raised earlier by the Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge. The statement came during a heated debate on the Waqf Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Upendra Kushwaha urged the central government to amend the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, arguing that control of the historic Buddhist site should rest solely with Buddhists. He also criticised the Congress, holding it responsible for the current structure of the temple’s management.
The Bodh Gaya Temple Act, enacted in 1953, mandates an eight-member trust, excluding the chairman, with equal representation of Hindus and Buddhists. The chairman, traditionally the district magistrate, must be a Hindu. Kharge had earlier questioned why non-Buddhists were part of the trust and demanded their removal.
Kushwaha’s remarks were made in the broader context of opposition criticism of the Waqf Bill. He dismissed claims that the proposed amendments would shift control of Waqf boards in favour of Hindus, citing clarifications from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju that non-Muslim representation would remain limited.
Appealing to Rijiju, Kushwaha said the issue of Bodh Gaya’s management was gaining global attention and protests were being held in support of Buddhist control. “Hindus should be removed from the Bodh Gaya Temple Trust, and it should be handed over to the Buddhists,” he said.
