The Opposition parties, including the BJP, which was till recently part of the Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar, on Sunday accused both the Centre and the state government for failing to take steps to avert the terror strike at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya despite specific intelligence inputs.
“It is a serious issue that Central agencies had warned about this attack and given specific inputs that Bodh Gaya would be attacked and still no proper arrangements were made (by the state government). The Central government must also take the responsibility to avoid such attacks,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, adding that the intelligence agencies had conveyed that in view of whatever was happening in Burma, terrorists will attempt something in Bodh Gaya temple. “Despite that no steps were taken to improve security,” he rued.
“BJP condemns the terror attacks in Bodh Gaya. We demand that the Centre and the state governments take steps so that such incidents should not be repeated,” Mr Javadekar said, adding that adequate steps should be taken by the authorities at other Buddhist circuit shrines.
Attacking the Nitish Kumar government, LJP supremo Ramvilas Paswan said the blasts reflect the failure of the state government. “The blasts took place even after alerts were given by the government of India. The responsibility lies with the chief minister and the state and this has damaged Bihar’s image internationally,” he added.
Strongly condemning the attack, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said when the IB had issued prior warnings of possible attack on the temple then the onus lay with the state government. “They will have to take responsibility for this. Let the investigation happen and the truth come out in the open and the elements responsible should be thoroughly investigated,” he asserted.
Mr Yadav said the incident had brought disrepute to the state on the global stage, as internationally people would feel “the temple has not been adequately protected”. It is a matter, which warrants a probe, he demanded.
BJP MP from Gaya Hari Manjhi said the government machinery in the area had failed to take steps on the intelligence warnings and reports in this regard.
BJP general secretary and MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who belongs to Bihar, said he was leaving for Bodh Gaya with party MLAs from Bihar to assess the situation there ands will also meet those injured.