Though the Ministry of Home Affairs has hurriedly denied any Al-Qaeda link in Bodh Gaya blasts, it is beyond doubt that the recent terror attack on the most revered Buddhist temple, Mahabodhi, reminded us of the obliteration of Bamiyan Buddhas in February, 2001 by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. If the intention is right, the course of investigation will lead to a logical conclusion. But the claims of intelligence agencies about the inputs on Bodh Gaya as a ‘terror target’ and the series of incidents prior and after the attack, raise many questions about our ability to deal effectively with the terror network.
The attack is primarily suspected to be the handiwork of Indian Mujahedeen (IM), in retaliation to the anti-Muslim violence in Burma. Only last year, the Government agencies were taken aback by the existence of 2000 Rohingya refugees in India, protesting before the UNHRC office. The public vandalism of the Buddha statues installed in a park at Lucknow by some Muslims was responded by inaction. Myanmar is going through transition and cultural struggle between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state has a strong Bangladeshi connection. The suspected Indian Mujahedeen group has a strong base in Bangladesh with support from Pakistani intelligence agencies. Besides this network, new module of Naxal-Islamist network cannot be ruled out considering the crude nature of the low intensity bombs.
Incidentally, Pakistan is clearly identified as the epicentre of this terror network in the Al Jazeera leaked Abbottabad Commission Report. Unfortunately, Jammu and Kashmir which is another troubled link in this terror network is left to the complaining and blackmailing of the Abdullah dynasty. Just 10 days before the Bodh Gaya attack, Hizbul Mujahideen militants ambushed an Army convoy killing eight Army jawans and injuring 19 others near Hyderpora area. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has warned the Government of India, to which he and his father is a coalition partner, not to take People of Kashmir for granted. His repeated demand for repeal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act not only demoralises the security forces but boosts the separatist sentiments in Jammu and Kashmir.
Even after more than 25 terrorist attacks in the last nine years of the UPA rule, response to such networked menace is conspicuously haphazard. The Myanmar angle is neglected in foreign and security policy. The rehabilitation of Myanmar refugees in some of the areas of Hyderabad by some ‘secularist NGOs’ is being indirectly promoted. Need for initiating the dialogue process with Pakistan is repeated every now and then. The intelligence agencies are targeted and investigating agencies are manipulated for political gains. The anti-terror laws are being diluted and terrorism related issues are highly communalised. Shri Digvijay Singh, trying to give a twist to the issue through a tweet, linked the Bodh Gaya episode to Shri Narendra Modi’s interaction with the BJP workers in Bihar. The Home Minister has no answers either about Ishrat Jahan case or Bodh Gaya blasts. The outcome is NSG and NIA teams sent to Bodh Gaya by the Home Ministry, reached the site 12 hours after the blast occurred.
Decoding of this terror network demands immediate repealing of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and integrated intelligence and military strategies to disintegrate the hideouts of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and Maulana Masood Azhar.
In such a situation, Bhagavan Buddha should enlighten the ruling class about their duties. In the Maha-Parinibbana Sutta, Bhagvan Buddha prescribed seven condition of Aparihaniya-dhamma: ('conditions of welfare') for a ruler and one of them is to show respect, esteem and reverence towards shrines. Before showcasing the most successful model of good governance, Shri Nitish Kumar should take some bodh (lessons) from the dhamma of Buddha and not the ‘secularist mantra’ of trivialising terror, propounded by Mr Digvijay Singh and his party.
