Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said on Thursday that his young cabinet colleague from Bihar Chirag Paswan should “stay in Delhi for some time” and postpone his plan to go to Bihar. The Republican Party of India (RPI) chief made this comment in response to Paswan’s repeated statement during a press conference, “Bihar is calling me”.
This has spread enthusiasm in Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the party has started putting up posters describing the Hajipur MP as “the next Chief Minister”. Athawale, who is a Dalit leader like Paswan, said, “I don’t think Chirag should consider changing his base in Bihar. It would be better for him to stay in Delhi for some time.”
On this occasion, he also reminded Paswan of the 2020 assembly election, which he fought by separating from the BJP -led NDA and “he ignored the advice of his late father Ram Vilas Paswan”. Athawale said, “It is true that Chirag had influence in the elections. The party he was leading, he got sufficient number of votes. But she could not win any seat.”
The Maharashtra leader said that although his party’s presence is now far ahead of the western state, “We realize that we are not a strength in Bihar right now. That is why we will not ask for any seat in the assembly elections to be held in a few months. But we will try to ensure the victory of the NDA.”
The Union Minister urged the Bihar government to amend the provisions of Bodh Gaya Temple Act-1949 again so that the management of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar Temple could be handed over to the Buddhists.
He said, “Last time when I went to Patna, I met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and urged him to intervene in the ongoing protests demanding control over the Mahabodhi Mahavihar temple in Bodh Gaya. I again requested the state government to amend the provisions of Bodh Gaya Temple Act-1949 so that the management of the Mahabodhi Temple should be made to the Buddhists. And the land of the temple should be handed over to the trust. “
He said that Buddhist people are demanding that people of other religions should not be part of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), which oversees the management of the world famous Mahabodhi temple. BTMC has four Buddhist and four Hindu members, while Gaya District Magistrates serve as its ex -officio president.
Athawale said, “I demand from the authorities to resolve the issue and canceled the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949 and ensure Buddhist control over the temple management committee.” When asked about Operation Sindoor, Athawale said, “The armed forces led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a befitting reply to Pakistan, when the enemy country targeted our citizens in Pahalgam.”
