Taking serious exception to what they said objectionable remarks of Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Buddhism, Dalit intellectuals and activists Srishaila Nagaral, Eshwar Ingan and Arjun Bhadre demanded Mr. Sudhakar’s resignation from the Council of Ministers for hurting the sentiments of the followers of Buddhism.
Addressing a media conference here on Wednesday, they said that the Minister had insulted Buddha and spread misinformation about Buddhism just to appease a particular community.
“Mr. Sudhakar has said that Buddha is one of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu and Buddhism is thus a part of Hinduism. It is a false statement. Buddha was a great man who lived on this earth and Vishnu is a mythological figure. Contrary to Hinduism, Buddhism doesn’t believe in the concept of God or supernatural power that created the world and that it is controlling it. Buddhists are non-believers and Hindus are believers,” Mr. Nagaral, a writer, said.
