Monks protest EC decision to convert 117-year-old monastery into polling booth

Located in Bowbazar area, the Buddha Dharmankur Sabha houses a small school inside the premises of the monastery where polling will be held on May 12.

Buddhist monks in the city are up in arms against Election Commission’s decision to turn a 117-year-old monastery into a polling booth.

Located in Bowbazar area, the Buddha Dharmankur Sabha houses a small school inside the premises of the monastery where polling will be held on May 12.

“This is the first time that they have instructed us to keep it available for polling purpose. It is a very small school which is inside the monastery. How can polling be held inside a religious place? They don’t do it inside temples and mosques, then why a monastery?” Hemendu Bikash Chowdhury, general secretary of the monastery said. We have already complained to the poll body against the decision and even met the Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta, Chowdhury said.

“What is more shocking is that they have told us to keep the premises free on May 14 , the day of Buddha Purnima,” monks of the monastery said.

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