19/05/2020
BIHAR GOVT RELENTS TO NOT TURN BUDDHIST MONASTERIES AT BODHGAYA INTO QUARANTINE CENTRES FOR THOSE EXPOSED TO COVID-19 AFTER RRAG INTERVENTION
Bihar government had turned all the monasteries at Bodhgaya into quarantine centres for those Indians who are being brought back under Vande Bharat Mission to Bihar.
Acquiring the Buddhist monasteries and turning them into quarantine centres would have made sense if they were empty. However, all the monasteries contain resident Indian and foreign Buddhist monks, caretakers and devotees. In exceptional cases, a few rooms in a temple may not be occupied but all other rooms are occupied. As everything is in a compound of the temple, there is no possibility for ensuring social distancing and other safety protocols.
This morning I intervened with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as with Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as well as the key opposition leaders of Bihar i.e. Tejashi Yadav, Prashant Kishor, Pavan K Verma and Manoj Kumar Jha. I had also raised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
I was very clear: India must avoid diplomatic embarrassment. After all there are many foreign Buddhist monks and devotees at Bodhgaya and if any of these foreign nationals is infected, the Ministry of External Affairs has to inform the concerned diplomatic missions with necessary explanation.
Please see my twitter.
I have the pleasure to inform that Rev. Pragyadeep, General Secretary of International Buddhist Council which is the organisation of all Buddhist monasteries and institutions of Bodhgaya has been informed by the District authorities that the said notification has been withdrawn.
There was never the case to turn a Buddhist temple with four rooms (Korea Temple) where already monks and caretakers are staying into a quarantine centre.
