Lanka's BBS wants ties with RSS to form 'peace zone' in S Asia

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A controversial Sri Lankan Buddhist nationalist group, accused of fanning communal tensions here, today claimed it is in talks with the RSS to create a "Buddhist-Hindu peace zone" in South Asia to counter Islamic extremism in the region.
"Discussions are at a high level with the RSS. We are having a dialogue with the RSS as well as Buddhist organisations in India," Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) chief and Buddhist monk Galagodaatte Gnanasara told reporters.
The group said it was seeking an alliance with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in India.
"We think we can have a Buddhist-Hindu peace zone in this part of the world. Our discussions are on that," he said.

The BBS has been linked to several hate attacks against Muslims in the Buddhist-majority nation in June that left four people dead.
Last month, BBS forged an alliance with Myanmar's 969 movement, a Buddhist group also linked to anti-Muslim riots in that country.
They had invited a radical Buddhist Myanmarese monk to address its special convention in Colombo in September, which was vehemently opposed by Muslim groups.
The Opposition has accused the Rajapaksa government of complicity with the BBS on their anti-Muslim campaign.