The conglomeration plans to go for a sit in from April 23 to 25 and then launch a countrywide agitation from April 26.
A conglomeration of Buddhist organisations has renewed its demand to get constitutional status of separate religion to Buddhism. "The Buddhist should be accorded the status of separate religion by amending article 25 (2) (b) of the Constitution as per the recommendations of Justice MN Venkatachaliah Commission. Ours is a totally separate religion having different set of principles and rituals," said Mukund Khaire, national convenor of the All India Action Committee for Buddhist Law (AIACBL). The conglomeration plans to go for a sit in from April 23 to 25 and then launch a countrywide agitation from April 26.
Khaire said, "According to the census, our population is about 84.5 lakh but actually it is close to 4 crore as many people despite following Buddhism get reflected as Hindus. This means we are more than Christian and Sikhs and deserve to be treated as a separate religion." Refusing any political motives behind the move, Khaire added that if the Sikhs, who were considered to be in Hindu fold, can get the status of separate religion and if Jains also can, then why not us, the Buddhists?
The constitution review commission under Justice Venkatachaliah in its report submitted in 2002 had recommended omission of Explanation II of Article 25 of the constitution. The explanation in reference to Hinduism says it "shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing Sikh, Jain or Buddhist religions, and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly".
The action committee plans to launch a countrywide agitation from April 26 with participation of people under the Buddhist fold in the government does not give in to their demand.
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