Buddhists condemn `disfiguring' of Buddha statues
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

BHOPAL, MARCH 4: Activists of different Buddhist organisations here today condemned the disfiguring of Buddha statues by the ruling Taliban militia in Afghanistan, police said.

The agitators from several viharas, the Buddhist Society and the Ambedkar International Mission, gathered at the busy Roshanpura Square near the Raj Bhavan here, shouted slogans against the ``barbaric act'' and burnt effigy of the Taliban government, police added.

Led by the Society local unit leader Sunil Salve and mission unit chief Gautam Bawaskar, the women-agitators also, carrying a banner that ``World does not want war but needs Buddha'', shouted slogans that those who could not create sculptures, had no right to demolish them.

The agitators included workers from Lumbini Buddha Vihar, Ashok Buddha Vihar, Karuna Buddha Vihar, Ambedkar International Missionary, Bhopal and the Buddhist Soceity, according to missionary local unit Chief, Bawaskar.

Police said tight security was being maintained in the area.

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.