What is the controversy over the Bodh Gaya temple?, Pg 8

• Around 100 Buddhist monks under All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) are demanding repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act (BTA), 1949.

• Protest arises over management control of Mahabodhi Temple, a key Buddhist site.

What the BTA Provides

• BTA established eight-member management with equal representation of Buddhists and Hindus.

• District Magistrate (from majority Hindu community) made ex-officio chairperson, giving Hindus dominance in leadership.

Historical & Religious Significance

• Bodh Gaya: site of Buddhas enlightenment under the Bodhi tree; built by Emperor Ashoka.

• Once the Mecca of Buddhism, the temples control shifted historically due to invasions and decline of Buddhism.

Government Response & Legislative Action

• Bihar Assembly passed the Act in 1949 to address Buddhist-Hindu management dispute.

• 2013 amendment allowed any individual to be chairman, but calls for full Buddhist control continue.

Analysis & Way Forward

• Issue reflects tension between secular governance and minority religious autonomy.

• Way forward: inclusive committee reforms and stronger recognition of Buddhist cultural rights.

Mains Mock Question:

"Critically analyse the constitutional and ethical issues surrounding the management of religious sites in India, with reference to the Bodh Gaya Temple controversy."