BSP Chief Mayawati said that the serial bomb blasts at Mahabodhi Temple could have been averted had the UPA Government taken appropriate steps in case Bihar Government was not responding to the intelligence inputs given on the possible terror strike at the Buddhist shrine in a very effective manner.
Mayawati paid a visit to Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya on Monday for making on the spot assessment of the blast sites.
later, she told newspersons that it is the joint responsibility of both the Centre and the State Government to ensure full security to the Buddhist shrine but both of them failed in their duties. She said that the Centre cannot escape from its responsibility to provide full security to the Mahabodhi Temple if it is established that the State Government requires more resources for doing so.
Condemning the terror strike in the harshest term, Mayawati who herself follows Buddhist customs and traditions said that the maintenance of the Mahabodhi Temple is also not up to the mark as even roof of the temple needs urgent repair work.
She said that it is the responsibility of the Centre to provide adequate financial support to the temple management for keeping it in good shape.
lord Buddha gave message of peace and brotherhood to the entire world from Bodh Gaya and hence the place has a very special significance, she added.
If the BSP assumes power at the centre after the next lok Sabha election, Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) will not face any difficulty in getting adequate funds, she remarked.
"We should take lessons from the terror strike at Bodh Gaya by improving the security standards at all religious places of the country," she remarked.
Two monks, one each from Myanmar and Tibet were injured in the terror strike at Bodh Gaya on July 7.
Meanwhile, the private security guards who were responsible for the internal security of the Mahabodhi Temple had been removed and now Home Guards would be entrusted with the task.
The role of private security guards had come under scanner as four blasts had taken place inside the Mahabodhi Temple premises and terrorists had planted cylinder bombs during the night hours while they exploded them from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. on the date of the incident.