Latest news with #BhanteVinacharya
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
UP monk held for creating ruckus at Bodh Gaya
Gaya: Police on Wednesday arrested one Bhante Vinacharya , of Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) for trying to create ruckus and indulging in violent activities in support of the ongoing agitation by a section of Buddhist monks since Feb 12 this year. The protesting monks are demanding total control of Buddhists over the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC).District magistrate-cum-BTMC chairman Thiyagarajan SM said, "Despite the fact that the district administration has been helping the agitators to put forward their point at every level, some outsiders are also getting involved in illegal activities in the name of agitation. Several rounds of talks have been held to end the agitation, but to no avail.""The agitators have also met high level officials of state home department, CM's secretariat at Patna. During his visit to Bodh Gaya on Monday, governor Arif Mohammed Khan also met them. As tourists and the devotees from across the world visit Bodh Gaya, known as a place for peace and enlightenment, such illegal activities are causing damage to the image of the heritage city. Such people are being identified through CCTV, videography and strict action is being taken against them," he Anand Kumar said, "Magistrate and the police personnel deployed for security of Mahavihara noticed on Tuesday that under the guise of peaceful agitation, some anti-social elements suddenly started shouting slogans, creating ruckus and indulging in violent activities. During initial investigation, it appeared that the aim of these people was to create tension under the guise of the agitation. Such elements had also made an abortive bid to cause inconvenience to devotees and tourists on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti on Monday."He said on Wednesday, the Bodh Gaya police received a written application from one Anuj Kumar Gupta, a resident of Bodh Gaya."Anuj mentioned that when he reached near the main gate of Mahabodhi Mahavihara on the way home from his shop, some people surrounded him shouting slogans and started beating him up and also abused him. Due to the intervention of other people present there and the police force, he was rescued from those anti-socials," said the the wake of application by Anuj, and after scanning of CCTV footage, Bhante Vinacharya was arrested. On Wednesday, the shopkeepers took out a march to protest the attack on Anuj.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Time of India
Over 100 buses to carry Nagpur Buddhists to Bodh Gaya for Mukti Andolan
Nagpur: The Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan Sangharsh Samiti announced on Friday that over 100 buses will ferry Buddhist devotees from Nagpur to Bodh Gaya on May 11. This mobilisation supports the ongoing Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan, which advocates for the complete management of the Bodh Gaya temple to be handed over to the Buddhist community . Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Rakesh Dhargawe said that approximately 12 lakh Buddhists are expected to gather in Bodh Gaya for Buddha Purnima on May 12. "From Nagpur, we have arranged for more than 100 buses to depart from Samvidhan Chowk on May 11, carrying 45 to 50 passengers each. The return journey is scheduled for May 14," he informed. Bhante Vinacharya also addressed the press, highlighting the significance of the pilgrimage and the movement's demand for Buddhist control of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar. He emphasised the spiritual significance of the pilgrimage and the importance of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar for Buddhists worldwide. "The complete management of the sacred site should be under the exclusive control of the Buddhist community," he said. The cost for the round trip, including meals, is Rs6500 for AC buses and Rs6000 for non-AC buses, and the commuters paid it voluntarily, informed Yogesh Raut, a member of the committee. He said that the number of buses may reach the 150 by May 11 as the response from Nagpurians is overwhelming. "The Samiti is facilitating this large-scale travel to enable participation in the Buddha Purnima gathering and to support the Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan," he said.
