RJD activists protest in Bodhgaya during the bandh on Monday. Picture by Suman

Gaya, July 8: The Gaya-Magadh division bandh called by the BJP and the RJD against yesterday’s blasts could not affect the daily ritual at the Buddhist monasteries in Bodhgaya.

International Buddhist Council (IBC) member Bhikkhu Priyapala of Chakma Buddhist monastery said the spiritual and other holy activities in the monasteries were conducted as usual.

“The bandh was called by the parties to gain political mileage. So the representatives of the monasteries decided not to support the bandh call,” Priyapala said.

Spiritual activities in monasteries like morning prayers, chanting of sutras, meditations, teaching and healthcare services remained unaffected today, Priyapala added.

During the bandh, police detained around 70 BJP activists in Gaya town around 12.30pm, said former state urban development and housing minister and Gaya town BJP MLA Prem Kumar. The activists, however, were released around 2pm.

BJP activists took out a procession in Bodhgaya today morning and blocked the road near Domuhan on Gaya-Dobhi road. Management of all private schools, including DPS, DAV, Gyan Bharati and others, had suspended classes for today.

Claiming that the bandh was a success, Prem Kumar said: “People voluntarily downed the shutters of their business establishments in Bodhgaya.”

He alleged that alerts were sounded by Intelligence agencies regarding a threat to the Mahavihara. “Despite that no measures were adopted by the JD(U). BJP’s national president Rajnath Singh would arrive in Bodhgaya tomorrow to take stock of the situation,” he said.

Most of the business establishments in Bodhgaya remained closed. Autorickshaws remained off the road till 2pm on the Gaya-Bodhgaya routes, including the military cantonment and the riverside road. The bandh, however, did not have much of an impact in Gaya town.

The shops in the Mahabodhi temple complex, opposite the Mahavihara remained shut for security reasons.

RJD supporters, too, staged a demonstration near the Mahavihara today.

They took out a procession in Bodhgaya in support of their Magadh division bandh call.

RJD national general secretary Ramkripal Yadav and the RJD legislator from Belaganj, Surendra Prasad Yadav, visited Bodhgaya to support the activists.