BJP MP Chandan Mitra on Thursday said the recent attack on the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya was a backlash of the ongoing conflict between Muslims and Buddhists in Myanmar.
He said the explosions were an apparent retaliation to the 'atrocities' against Muslims by Buddhists in that country. At a discussion on the 'Muslim-Buddhist conflict' organised by India Foundation at India International Centre in the Capital, Mitra said Myanmar's conflict was slowly spreading to other countries too, especially India. "The issue of anti-Buddhist and anti-Hindu violence needs to be highlighted and discussed at length," he said.
The trouble that erupted in Rakhine state of Burma after the rape of a Buddhist woman by a few Rohingya men, triggered violence in that country, with both communities up in arms against each other.
"Now, this problem of Rohingyas is spilling over into India," Mitra noted. Among prominent panellists were former Ambassador to Myanmar Bhaskar Mitra and Dr Tint Swe, former MP, NlD and chairman of Burma Centre in Delhi.
Discussing the rising attacks on Muslims of an obscure ethnic group, the Rohingyas, who have been a target of the Buddhist community, Swe said, "Myanmar is obliged to tender an apology to India for the retaliations the conflict in Myanmar has caused. We deeply regret deaths of non-Buddhist community." Bhaskar Mitra too put the blame on intolerance of Muslims in Myanmar for the current situation.
"For Muslims, religion is supreme and nothing else. When the Muslim community takes up issues in another country for their rights, rightly or wrongly, it causes religious disturbances. India has both Muslim and Buddhist population. India is not directly involved but there are a huge number of Buddhist pilgrims in the country who have the power to retaliate in support of their own community," he pointed out.
"Buddhist monks are gentle and quiet but at the same time, they are alert and aware. When push comes to shove, they will resort to blood fury," Bhaskar Mitra added.
On the rising fear among Buddhists to protect their community, Swe said, "The Buddhist population is spreading to different parts of the world and is getting exposed to adversities and vulnerable situations. They feel the threat."
The panellists also observed that the effort to involve India in conflicts was intended to force India to take a stand on this. Post Independence, India and Burma drifted apart and Burma became close to China for infrastructural and monetary support.