‘Preserve Buddhist relics found in Ayodhya’

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 30

Members of several Buddhist groups in the state have written to the Prime Minister requesting Buddhist relics found in Ayodhya, UP, be preserved and protected. They have submitted a memorandum to the ADC, Jalandhar, over the issue on Friday. Arun Kumar, the general secretary of the Federation of Ambedkarites and Buddhist Organisations (FABO), UK, has also sent a letter to the President in this regard.

In his letter, Kumar has demanded from the Archaeological Survey of India to secure and preserve the Buddhist site and artefacts excavated at the Ram temple site in Ayodhya.”

FABO has also sought from the President that he should “intervene and order the ASI to secure the site and preserve our national heritage. I also request that further excavation should be carried out in the presence of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim representatives so that the research is not compromised.”

In the memorandum addressed to the PM, Buddhist groups wrote: “We request you that Buddhist remains have been found on the site of Ayodhya during the levelling of land for the construction of the Ram temple. This is the Buddhist heritage and it has to be preserved under the custody of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). We request you to take immediate action to preserve these.” Those who have sent the memorandum include Sudesh Kalyan, president, Ambedkar Mission Society, Punjab; Baldev Raj Bhardwaj, finance secretary, Ambedkar Bhawan Trust; Jaswinder Wariana, president, All India Samata Sainik Dal; Ram Lal Dass, general secretary, Dr Ambedkar Memorial Trust; Sham Lal, general secretary, Dr Ambedkar Welfare Society; HB Sampla, president, Punjab Buddhist Society.

Ambedkar ally, Lahori Ram Bali (90) also released a video on the issue today.

In the video shared on social media, Bali says: “I appeal to the Central Government that relics found in Ayodhya be preserved. During the digging and levelling works, they should not be destroyed. Finding of Buddhist relics in Ayodha has come to the notice of Buddhists across the world and requests are being sent from England, Canada and the US that the relics should be preserved and protected. We hope that the Centre will take requisite action and buddhist community in the country will not be disappointed.”

Santosh Dass, president, FABO, UK, said: “It would be a travesty if the ancient Buddhist relics are destroyed or appropriated as Hindu relics. These artefacts are an important part of India’s history and must be saved. The President must intervene in the matter.”

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