Two lakh people to embrace Buddhism in K'taka

Gulbarga, Oct 12 (UNI) About two lakh people will embrace Buddhism in a congregation, christened as 'Dharma Chakra Parivarthana', to be held here on saturday.

International Buddhist Youth Organisation National President Bhante Bodhi Dhamma told reporters here today that the people, especially those belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, were attracted to Buddhism, which preached non-violence, peace and equality, to protect their self-respect.

He said a team of 30 Buddhist monks were touring 200 villages in ten districts of North Karnataka, spreading the message of Buddhism.

State Women and Child Welfare Minister H K Kumaraswamy and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Mallikarjun Kharge would also participate in the congregation, he added.

Mr Dhamma came down heavily on the Gujarat Government for not permitting to hold such a congregation in that State, stating that denying permission amounted to depriving constitutional rights and civil liberty. The anti-conversion Act should be repealed, he demanded.

Jigen, a Swiss citizen, who was also present, said he had embraced Buddhism 11 years ago in Japan because ''inequality existed in Christianity.'' UNI DP RM-GD VD HT1635