FBBWAA to Take Mahabodhi Temple Management Issue to UN

Guwahati: The Federation of Barua Buddhist Welfare Association of Assam (FBBWAA) has announced plans to take the long-standing Mahabodhi Temple management controversy to the international stage, including the United Nations headquarters in New York. The organization is protesting the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) Act, 1949, which they claim allows non-Buddhists to control the administration of one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites — the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. FBBWAA Chairman Subash Barua and Secretary General Shibu Talukdar voiced deep concern over what they described as decades of "unconstitutional control" over the temple by non-Buddhist entities. The association argues that the BTMC Act not only violates the spiritual integrity of the site but also disrespects the sentiments of Buddhists across India and beyond. The group highlighted the rising momentum of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Mukti Andolan (MMMA), formed last year to push for Buddhist autonomy in managing the temple. However, recent events have added urgency to their campaign. During the recent Buddha Jayanti celebrations, a peaceful gathering reportedly turned violent when fringe elements disrupted the event, chanted anti-MMMA slogans, and allegedly assaulted Bhikkhu Vinacharya, a Buddhist monk who has since gone missing. Talukdar warned that unless urgent steps are taken — including tracing the missing monk and transferring full management control of the Mahabodhi Temple to Buddhists — the organization will intensify its campaign, both nationally and internationally. “If necessary, we will approach the United Nations to ensure justice for the global Buddhist community,” he stated.