Gaya: Chief minister Nitish Kumar and Manoj Sinha, the minister of state for railways, on Friday skipped the four-day-long Bodhgaya Global Dialogues, an event organised by Deshkal Society, a Delhi-based non-government organisation working in the field of socio-economic empowerment.

Nitish was supposed to inaugurate the event while Manoj would have been the guest of honour, according to the programme details released by the organisers. The event began on Friday afternoon.

On whether the CM's prior consent was obtained, Deshkal Society secretary Sanjay Kumar said it was Nitish who had volunteered to inaugurate the event. According to him, some time back, he had discussed the event with the chief minister who was in Delhi at that time. "Besides appreciating the idea, the CM had said: ' Hum iska udghatan karenge (I will inaugurate it)'," said Sanjay.

Manoj reluctantly agreed to be the guest of honour, said the organiser. The absence of both the chief minister and the minister of state for railways caused deep embarrassment for the organisers.

According to Congress leader Balram Sharma, both Nitish and Manoj skipped the event on account of the controversy generated by the new traffic plan banning entry of three- and four-wheelers in the shrine vicinity. Bodhgaya observed a three-day bandh in the last week of February to register a protest against the new traffic arrangement.

As per details, on Saturday, DM Mulay, secretary, consular, passport, visa & overseas indian affairs, ministry of external affairs, would present a paper on Buddha's enlightenment and sustainable development. Jenice Leoshko, associate professor, University of Texas (US) would present a paper on "The important place of Bodh Gaya and Buddhist ideals in the construction of modern world".

A panel discussion on "Water, culture and sustainability" too has been scheduled for the second half on Day II. The discussion would be moderated by Sudhirendra Sharma, consultant, World Bank. The panel includes environmentalist Gopal Krishna, Avinash Kumar, director, program and policy, water aid, New Delhi and Aviram Sharma, assistant professor, school of ecology and environment, Nalanda University.

A film titled "The Legend of Buddha" would be screened on Sunday, Day III of the event. The Indian animated film produced by Stalin Sarvanan and directed by Shamboo Falke traces the journey of Sidhartha from a prince to Buddha, the enlightened one.