Nitish writes to PM for CISF security for Bodh Gaya temple
Patna, Aug 1: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has reiterated his request for CISF security at Bodh Gaya Buddhist shrine, scene of July 7 terror attack.
Kumar
in
his
letter
to
the
PM,
written
on
July
29,
sought
his
intervention
for
the
Centre
to
accept
the
state
proposal
and
pass
an
instruction
to
Union
Home
ministry
in
this
regard.
A
copy
of
the
letter
was
released
to
the
media
today.
He
reiterated
that
the
state
government
was
prepared
to
meet
the
expense
for
the
purpose.
The Bihar CM had expressed the need for CISF cover for Bodh Gaya temple a day after the explosions. In his plea to the Centre, he had said since CISF was a trained force, it could guard the shrine properly. Referring to the serial bomb blasts in Bodh Gaya on July 7 involving terrorist organisations, Kumar urged the PM to treat the proposal (of CISF cover) as urgent and crucial.
He informed him that the NIA (National Investigation Agency) had been entrusted with the responsibility for investigation into the blasts. The CM pointed out that Mahabodhi temple was not just another religious shrine. Rather this ancient temple which also encloses the site of Vajrasana(the spot where Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree, mediated and attained enlightenment 2600 years ago) is the holiest place of Buddhist pilgrimage in the world.
That is why the temple complex was given the status of a World Heritage site in 2002. The opposition BJP today vociferously protested the Bodh Gaya serial blasts in Bihar Assembly and blamed the state government of inaction even after 25 days of the incident.
PTI