Our Bureau/

Vikramshila Nagarik Samity (VNS) a Kahalgaon based body fighting for the cause of Vikramshila since long, has decided to knock the door of minister concerned including the prime minister at New Delhi for pressing the demand of establishing a central University in the name of Vikramshila Buddha Mahavihar. The delegates of VNS would also seek help of the members of parliament from this region so that their voice could be raised effectively.

“VNS would expose how the state government by its vindictive attitude, ignores  previous announcement of prime minister. On 2015 prime minister announced for a central University in the honour of the ancient world University, Vikramshila. The center asked the state government only to arrange 500 acres of  land near the half-excavated site. But after spending more than 3 years, state government now started saying that it could only afford 200 acres of land because it could not compensate the land owners due to its penury,” pointed out NK Jaiswal, convener of VNS.

VIPS and VVIPs always prefer to visit Vikramshila but care less for it.

Jagganath Prasad Gupta and N K Jaiswal who would lead the delegation, aimed to instigate Nardendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues against the indifferent attitude of the state government. “The state government headed by Nitish Kumar who never shown any interests to Vikramshila like Nalanda (which is in his home turf) just projecting state’s  poor financial condition. The government now ready with 200 acres of land which will not be suitable as per the proposal of the center. The state government planning to postponed the central’s project while offering 200 acres lands only,” he alleged.

He however claimed that the ground reality is totally different as more than 150 affluent farmers having adequate cultivated lands at Kahalgaon sub-division already unanimously repeated their previous promise of handing over their lands for the proposed central University.

The farmers from Parsurampur and Ekdara Panchyats  at Kahalgaon sub-division in Bhagalpur are united under the banner of VNS and shown solidarity for giving lands for the proposed central varsity. The farmers strongly criticized the attitude of Bihar government which recently expressed its unwillingness to arrange funds for compensations for the local farmers for acquiring 500 acres of lands for the prosed central varsity in the name of Vikramshila Buddha Mahavihara.

“It’s really the big contrast here, we are ready to handed over our lands against the compensation of governmental rates. But Bihar government which earlier was crying for lands, now cooked up the game of penury and stated that it could only give compensation for acquiring only 200 acres of lands against the desire of the central government of 500 acres for the prosed varsity,” said Bibhash Chandra Jha, a local farmer at Parsurampur who also presided over the meeting.

Jaiswal alleged Bihar government for unnecessary lingering the land acquisition when local farmers are ready to give their lands against proper compensations as per the governmental rates. According to him earlier district administration on July 17 sent proposal for three alternative places each having three Panchyats with 500 acres of lands to state government.

“We are concentrating only on the second proposal of Sangeetbaita, Parsurampur and Ekdara Panchyats for 500 acres of lands. It will be the best option because the area is located near to the half-excavated site of Vikramshila and secondly it is located just besides the NH-80 and also beside the Bhagalpur-Sahebganj section of railway line,” Jailswal justified for the area for the proposed central varsity.

“Farmers are ready to give their lands but the state government started the drama. We already sent our request to the chief minister so that the works for the proposed central varsity could started soon. But nothing happened and the local administration has initiated for arranging 200 acres of land said Sweta Gupta, ward member from the area.

Jaiswal while echoing the farmers warned the state government for not to play with the sentiment of the local people who are ready to hand over their lands for the proposed central varsity here. “We will soon start mass movement against the vindictive attitude of the state government which does not want the central varsity or not any development of Vikramshila in the pattern of Nalanda and our New Delhi mission will fulfill our desires, the long awaited demands for the welfare of Vikramshila” Jaiswal said.

“We will call on concern other union minsters like tourism etc and its officials at New Delhi. Our aim is to project other important demands  also like attachment of Vikramshila into Buddha Circuit and also into World Heritage site of UNESCO, completing the excavation works at the half-excavated site of Vikramshial and proper research works and excavation to establish the birth place of Dipanker Srighyan Atisa ,” he added further.