The National Integration Council condemned communal violence and urged State Governments to take steps to strengthen harmonious relations in society.
The 16{+t}{+h} meeting of the 148-member body, addressed by the Prime Minister, and attended by Union Ministers, chief ministers and leaders of various parties, also discussed ways to combat the communal menace.
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the local administration should prevent small issues from snowballing into big controversies. He said State Governments should lose no time in controlling communal violence.
“The state should use all means at its disposal to punish those guilty for fanning communal violence and ensure a speedy crackdown on such elements irrespective of their political affiliations or influence,” the Prime Minister said.
Expressing concern at the growing violence against women, children and Dalits, the NIC’s resolution said all those indulging in communal violence should be brought to law without any delay.
It also condemned the sexual abuse and violent attacks on women. The NIC resolved “to ensure prompt and firm action against the culprits by the law enforcement agencies as well as speedy prosecution of such cases under the criminal justice system.”
Mentioning the role of social media in fanning communal sentiments, the Prime Minister warned against the irresponsible use of the social media, making it a platform for trouble mongers.
“It is necessary to maintain independence of giving opinion and views by people in social media. But at the same time, it is also important that we do not let miscreants and troublemakers to misuse social media. I feel today’s meeting will look into the issue of misuse of social media and deliberate on it,” he said.
The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, skipped the function, while senior party leaders like L.K. Advani and Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the meeting.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who severed his party’s ties with BJP, walked up to Advani and greeted him. In his speech, Kumar warned the country against the designs of communal elements.
jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in