NIC to discuss steps to curb communalism

The National Integration Council will meet here Monday to discuss measures to curb communal violence and hate propaganda and improve social harmony.

The meeting, being held in the wake of communal violence in Muzaffarabad that led to killing of 48 people, will also discuss the proposed communal violence bill.

To be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the agenda for the meeting includes measures to curb communalism, promote communal harmony and prevent discrimination against weaker sections including minorities and scheduled tribes.

The meeting will also discuss "radicalisation of youth in the name of religion and caste" and how to curb it.

It will also discuss how the state and police should handle civil disturbances.

Official sources said the meeting will discuss safety and security of women and role of social networking sites in promoting national integration.

An official statement issued by the government last week on the NIC meeting had expressed concern on "the increase in communal incidents in different parts of the country over the last few years."

It had said that notwithstanding sporadic occurances of communal and other divisive conflicts, the vast majority of common men and women, irrespective of their religious affiliations, live in peace and harmony and have no interest in violence and disorders.

Constituted to combat the evils of communalism, casteism, regionalism, linguism and narrow-mindedness as a follow up of National Intergration Conference under the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in September-October, 1961, the NIC's first meeting was held in 1962.

The NIC comprises union ministers, chief ministers, political leaders and representatives of religion, media and business and other eminent personalities. Its last meeting was held Sep 10, 2011.