'Upset' Shahnawaz Hussain says 'BJP doesn't want to play politics on terrorism'

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shahnawaz Hussain, who was today not allowed to enter the Bodh Gaya temple because of the arrival of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said that his party does not want to play politics on the issue of terrorism.

"We want that all should be united in the fight against terrorism," he told the media here.

Hussain said that he should have been allowed inside the temple during the Congress leaders visit for he is also a Member of Parliament (MP).

"I also went there, but a DSP and an SDO told me that you can't enter inside because Soniaji is coming. Soniaji is also a Member of Parliament and I am also a Member of Parliament. I am also the member of the Privilege Committee. Since I am a Bihari, I behaved in a courteous manner," said Hussain.

"There were four MLAs with me. We waited there because we are concerned about Bihar. We would have entered forcibly had we wanted," he added.

A BJP worker was today detained for raising slogans against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was visiting the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, along with Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

BJP workers raised slogans against Gandhi because Shahnawaz Hussain was not allowed to visit the temple.

Hussain, who is the BJP MP from Bhagalpur, was later allowed to enter the Mahabodhi temple.

Shinde today said the Central Government is considering the request for deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at Bodh Gaya temple in Bihar after the serial blasts there.

Shinde, who visited Bodh Gaya along with Sonia Gandhi, said the government will consider CISF security for holy sites.

The two leaders met officials of the investigation agencies and Bihar Government during which they reviewed the security arrangements after blasts in the temple complex.

The Home Minister after the review meeting said the probe is on by NIA, and added that the investigators would look at all possible angles into the blast.

Shinde informed that cylinders filled with ball bearing were planted at the temple in the night.

The Home Minister and Congress President's visit to Bodh Gaya came a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lashed out at the Centre, and alleged that it was incompetent in tackling terror attacks in the country.

The Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar has come under sharp criticism following the terror strike in the Mahabodhi temple complex.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun probing the serial blasts, which rocked the temple town of Bodh Gaya on Sunday. Two monks were injured in the nine low intensity blasts.

Security agencies suspect that Indian Mujahideen may be behind Sunday's multiple blasts. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the blasts.

The Home Ministry has directed all states to ensure foolproof security at Buddhist shrines and Tibetan settlements.