Bodhgaya blasts: Lalu targets Nitish, calls it a failure of state govt

Condemning the serial blasts in Bodhgaya, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday lashed out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and raised questions on the security arrangements in the temple.

Condemning the serial blasts in Bodhgaya, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday lashed out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and raised questions on the security arrangements in the temple.

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"Internationally, this is a very important spot and this has sent a very wrong message to the international community," Yadav said.

"We strongly condemn the act of violence on a spot which represents peace and non-violence. What was the state government doing? What did the IB do after the report?" he asked.

"If IB had warned earlier, then entire responsibility is on state government," he said.

Meanwhile, LJP supremo Ramvilas Paswan criticised Nitish Kumar, and said the blasts reflect the failure of the state government to have acted in time to avert the strike.

"The blasts took place even after alerts were given by the Government of India. The responsibility lies with the Chief Minister and the state and this has damaged Bihar's image internationally," he added.

Nine serial explosions on Sunday rocked the internationally renowned temple town of Bodhgaya, including four in the Mahabodhi Temple complex, injuring two monks.

According to reports, while four blasts took place inside the Mahabodhi Temple complex, three occurred in Karmapa monastery, one each near the 80-ft Buddha statue and at the bus stand near bypass.

The blasts took place between 5:30 to 5:58 am.