MP Dhanorkar's intervention ends 10-day fast over Ghugus Buddha Vihar

A hunger strike that had been underway for 10 days over the Buddha Vihar in Ghugus ended after mediation by the administration. MP Pratibha Dhanorkar herself reached the protest site and held a positive discussion with the agitators. Lloyds company and the administration assured that the old vihar would not be demolished until the new Buddha Vihar is fully built, after which the matter was resolved peacefully.

The fast had been going on for 10 days under the leadership of Bhante Ratnamani Thero to save the Bodhisattva Buddha Vihar in Shantinagar and its sacred Bodhi tree. MP Pratibha Dhanorkar went to the protest pandal and held detailed talks with the agitators. After her mediation succeeded and both the administration and Lloyds company took positive steps, Bhante Ratnamani Thero broke his fast by drinking coconut water from the hands of MP Pratibha Dhanorkar.

As a permanent solution to the problem, a donor will provide land. On this 2,000 square foot plot, Lloyds Ghugus company will build a grand, well-appointed new Buddha Vihar. Both the company administration and the local administration have assured that the existing old vihar will not be demolished until construction of the new vihar is complete.

Once work on the new Buddha Vihar is complete, an idol of Lord Buddha will be installed there following full religious and customary tradition. Lloyds company has also officially accepted full responsibility for planting the sacred Bodhi tree in the new premises and for its protection. MP Pratibha Dhanorkar's initiative brought relief to the Buddhist community and agitators who had been upset, and those who had been fasting thanked the MP.

Those present on the occasion included Ghugus Municipal Council president Deepti Sontakke, police officer Raut, naib tehsildar Khandale, municipal council vice president Raju Reddy, Mahila Congress district president Kunda Jenekar, minority department district president Sohail Raza, taluka Congress president Anil Narule, public works chairman Roshan Pachare, sanitation and health chairman Nurul Siddiqui, planning chairman Ravish Singh, Ghugus corporator Toshik Shaikh, corporator Suraj Kannur, Chandrapur city municipal corporation corporator Rahul Ghotekar, corporator Rahul Chaudhary, Deepak Mitra, Azhar Shaikh, Diksha Satpute and Payal Durge. A large number of local citizens, social workers and members of the Buddhist community were also present.