BAMIYAN BUDDHA TO BODHGAYA

Buddha, who preached non-violence and love over 2,500  years ago, is even today worshipped worldwide as a messiah of peace. Even when Islam replaced Buddhism in several parts of the world, its followers never adopted any violent retributive campaign. Particularly in East Asia, from Sri Lanka to Korea and Japan, they continued to follow Buddha and spread his message in the society. This, however, did not impress the terrorists, who have no love for any thing religious except their own sectarian agenda. The world saw some years ago how the Talibans used tanks and dynamite to destroy the historical  Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan in March 2001. They did not pay any heed to the request of the comity of nations and unabashedly carried out their iconoclastic mission. Their only logic was that Islam did not permit idolatry. One cannot expect any sense of coexistence from such elements.

The scenario being so, the serial bomb blasts in the campus of the Bauddha Mahavihar, Bodhgaya, Bihar on early morning of July 7, 2013 has once again shocked the world. It is reported that in all 13 bombs were planted inside and outside of the temple out of which, 10 exploded and three did not. These three were defused by the security agencies. Two Buddhist pilgrims were injured but both of them are claimed to be out of danger. The sanctum sancorum remained safe whereas constructions around were almost smashed. The blast under the historical Bodhi tree has harmed it partly and forest experts from Dehradun have been requisitioned to treat the tree and restore its health as soon as possible. The injured are getting treatment in hospitals at Gaya and Patna. The Centre has rushed its STA and explosion experts to thoroughly inquire into the havoc. While these measures are on, the political parties, unfortunately have started issuing statements to suit their design.

It is reported that the Intelligence Bureau as well as the Delhi police had already sent alerts to the Bihar Govt. Despite that nothing tangible preventive steps appear to have been taken. The Chief Minister has requested the Centre to deploy CISF as the present private security agency was proving inadequate. It is further learnt that the Indian Mujahideen targeted this famous Buddhist shrine to take revenge as the Buddhists of Myanmar had damaged the life and property of Rohingya Muslims there. Similarly, the Pak trained Uygur Muslim militants are turning unruly in Xinjiang province of China. The world needs a concerted effort to strictly curb this dangerous trend in different countries.