Threats from communal forces must be dealt firmly,promptly: PM

Shinde calls in for collective efforts to contain the menace

Threats from communal, separatist and obscurantist forces to the nation's integrity must be dealt with firmly and promptly, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today.

Wrapping up National Integration Council (NIC) meeting here, Singh said a national effort by people of all sections of society including politicians are needed to prevent incidents of communal violence.

"It is clear from what has been said today that threats from communal, separatist and obscurantist forces to our nation's integrity, gender relations, harmony and equality for all our citizens must be dealt with firmly and promptly," Singh said.

Asserting that preventing incidents of communal violence is primarily the responsibility of the local administration and the police force, Singh said "it requires a national effort led by all of us in public life, particularly those involved in the political processes, and by all our citizens in every walk of life.

"It is also incumbent on all of us to promote actively an atmosphere conducive to the maintenance of communal harmony," he said.

"It is now for us to rededicate ourselves to this task, and to ensure that our deliberations in this Council result in concrete steps and improvements in the communal situation, in preventing atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, in eradicating manual scavenging and preventing violence against our women," the Prime Minister said.

"Only by doing so will we build the secular, inclusive and pluralistic India that we seek, which offers true equality of opportunity to all its citizens," he said at the conclusion of the day-long NIC meeting called in the backdrop of recent Muzaffarnagar violence.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that all members have pointed out that there are narrow and partisan vested interests behind communal violence and collective efforts are needed to contain the menace.

"We are facing new and emerging challenges in the wake of use of technology like social media. They have the potential for creating enormous trouble but if used properly they can be powerful tool for spreading the message of peace and brotherhood," the Home Minister said.