Bihar government denies desecration of sacred tree

Patna, Jul 21 (UNI) The Bihar government today made it clear that media reports alleging desecration of the holy tree under which Lord Budhha attained enlightment at Bodh Gaya were not based on facts.

State Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah told newspersons that an abortive attempt was made to bring down the image of Bodh Gaya and its people.

He said the government was investigating the matter and trying to identify those, who spread canards.

He said the government, however, for the "satisfaction" of the Buddhist priests, monks and followers had sent samples from the stub of the tree, which was allegedly cut and some other portions of the tree for examination at a laboratory in Pune.

Mr Amanaullah said the "cutting" was quite old and the scientists and experts would do the dating and match different branches of the tree for clearing all confusion.

Mr Amanullah, who visited the site, accompained by Additional Director General of Police (Special branch) D N Gautam, Patna zonal Inspector General of Police Rajbardhan Sharma and Director of local Agriculture Research Institute A K Singh during the day, said the stub of the branch was examined by the scientists in presence of chief priest of the Mahabodhi temple and a number of monks from Janpan, Myanmaar, Sri Lanka and India.

He stated that the last pruning of the tree was recorded in 1977.

'' We wil get bottom of all the episode, '' he added.

Dr Singh, who was present in the press conference, said the photographs of the tree taken during the past few years had been sent to the laboratory.

Dr Singh was given the responsiblity of "reviving" the holy tree which had started drying up in 2002.

UNI/DH SJC RN1934