Patna,(BiharTimes): As a belated damage limitation exercise Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday assured Buddhist religious leaders from across the world that strict security measures have been taken at Bodh Gaya so that no July 7 type incident could take place in future. Mahabodhi Temple and several other sites were rocked by serial bomb blasts on that day.
Addressing a congregation of over 200 Buddhists from 39 countries at the Budha Smriti Park in the state capital on Friday he said the serial bomb blasts in the holy shrine in Bodh Gaya on July 7 shocked the people of the state. Nobody had ever imagined that somebody would target a place known for giving a message of peace to the world.
Stating that the July 7 incident was a warning he said the state government took it very seriously and has beefed up security measures so that such things do not happen in future.
The Bihar chief minister said that the congregation would send a positive message of Bodh Gaya across the world.
Buddhists from Japan, Thailand, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Afghanistan, Germany, the United States, Russia, Australia, UK, etc took part in the conclave, organised by the International Buddhist Council.
The delegates include Mizutani Eikan and Reverend Kanikouie, both chief resident abbots from Japan.
Besides, Maha Phong Samaluk, the Sangharaja of Laos, Khamba Lama Dambajay, chief abbot of Mongolia, Delo Tulku Rinpoche of Russia, Tamba Ayusheed Panbido, supreme head of Russian Buddhists, Princess of Bhutan and Lama Lobzang, president of Asoka Mission were prominent among those present on the occasion.
The Bihar chief minister chose the occasion to assure the Buddhists world as after the serial blasts his government came under strong criticism from all opposition parties, especially the BJP, which left the alliance government in the state only a few days before the incident.
The blasts came as a big embarrassment to the Nitish government as the sanctum sanctorum of Buddhists was left in the hands of a few private security guards.
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