Buddhists allege non-cooperation by MP govt

Vidisha, MP, Nov 25 (UNI) The Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society and other Buddhists today alleged that Madhya Pradesh's Shivraj Singh Chouhan regime was not cooperating vis-a-vis the annual display of remains of the Buddha's foremost disciples at the world-renowned Buddhist site Sanchi and the fair there.

''Predecessor governments extended all possible cooperation,'' said Society Chairman Bangal Uptissa Nayak Thero.

Expressing anguish over encroachment in the vicinity of the World Heritage stupas, Ceylonese official Sachin Saman Athaudehatti felt that the state government and Archaeological Survey of India should pay immediate attention to the problem.

''The display first took place in 1952. Former President Shankar Dayal Sharma and Bharatiya Jana Sangh ideologue Shyama Prasad Mukherji were associated with the fair committee. State Medical Education Minister and local MLA Gaurishankar Shejwar did not attend the two-day event despite an invitation,'' alleged the society's Sanchi office Media Coordinator Dheerendra Pratap Singh.

An urn containing the remains of Mahaarhat Sariputra and Mahamaudgalanya was worshipped. The messages of President Pratibha Patil and her Ceylonese counterpart Mahinda Rajapakse were read out.

UNI