The sixth Vikramshila Mahotsav ended here on Friday with the Congress alleging that the state government has neglected the ancient seat of learning.

Residents said deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi’s claim that the government is working for the development of the site, during the festival’s inauguration on April 10, was a “ploy” to divert the attention of people from the government’s failure.

Former Assembly Speaker and Congress MLA from Kahalgaon, Sadanand Singh, said: “The half-excavated site of the varsity is facing identity crisis because of government’s apathy.”

The Congress has boycotted the festival in protest against the government apathy towards the site.

During the festival’s inauguration, Modi claimed that the government is taking an interest in infrastructure development to boost tourism. N.K. Jaiswal, the president of Vikramshila Nagrik Manch, a local organisation, said: “The government had never encouraged the development of the ancient varsity site. The development is only possible if it is included in the Buddhist circuit.”

Buddhist monks from abroad have started visiting the ancient site as Atish Dipankar Welfare Foundation, a body of Rabten Choeling — Centre for Higher Tibetan Studies, is constructing a temple of Atish Dipankar Sirgyan. He was a noted scholar of the ancient Vikramshila varsity.

The temple would help inclusion of the ancient site in the Buddhist circuit.

Pawan Kumar Choudhary, an expert in the Vikramshila affairs, said: “Earlier, intellectuals urged the district administration to invite the Dalai Lama and other foreign Buddhist monks to boost the popularity of the place. But, nothing has happened.”