New governing panel formed for Bodh Gaya

Patna: The Mahabodhi temple in Bihar's Bodh Gaya, Buddhism's holiest shrine, has got a governing panel after a gap of eight months.

The Bihar government issued a notification to form the new panel of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BGTMC) late on Friday, officials said here yesterday.

The government has nominated eight members - four Buddhists and Hindus each - to the new panel. The Gaya district magistrate will function as its ex-officio chairman.

The BGTMC's three-year term ended on September 10 last year, but the Bihar government delayed forming a new panel. Buddhist monks were upset with the government for "deliberately" delaying the notification. They are demanding that control of the shrine be with Buddhists.