Minister for Tourism and Culture and Archaeology V. Srinivas Goud’s comments at the 2,563rd Buddha Jayanthi here at Buddhavanam on Saturday assumed political colour.
He remarked that the Telangana region of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, with respect to Buddhism, was discriminated against and the related history was hidden or modified.
“Nagarjunakonda has gone to them (AP), and several rare findings of the Buddha, starting from 1st Century discovered here, are kept in their museum. We will bring them all back here,” he said. The Minister alleged the Centre and “rulers in 70 past years” did not sanction a single paisa for the expansive theme park.
The Buddhavanam or the Sri Parvata Arama will be made one of the best Buddhist centres of the world, and an International Buddhist University would also be set up, he said.
Earlier speaker, Editorial Director of Sakshi Media Group K. Ramachandra Murthy, however, recollected that works came to a halt after supervision by C. Anjaneya Reddy, Retd. IPS and founding member of the Buddhavanam project, stopped in 2014.
The Sri Parvata Arama or the Buddhavanam project, spread over 274 acres is also located on the site where Ikkaku dynasty ruled in 2nd and 3rd century A.D. It was conceived in 2000 and the construction started three years later.
In 2015, the project came back to life when Chief Minster K. Chandrasekhar Rao, during training sessions for the newly-elected at a nearby place, visited the place and was impressed by its potential and sanctioned ₹25 crore.
Officials say the project is nearing completion, and its inauguration will be done on a grand scale.
