Himself a prolific user of social media, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah nevertheless today called for toughening of laws to deal with social networking sites spreading hatred.
Speaking at the 16th National Integration Council (NIC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, Omar said there was an urgent need to make suitable amendments in the existing laws to end misuse of social sites.
Omar also spoke of how a few sections of the media and some unscrupulous users of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter often use them to spread rumours and circulation of fake videos, messages and images in a bid to hurt the sentiments of the religious communities and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere.
"Such unscrupulous elements need to be tackled with a firm hand so that people do not fall a prey to their hate propaganda.
"Customised software for keeping a tab on the social networking sites spreading hatred on the internet can also be envisaged. These social networking sites should be encouraged to devise greater self regulation lest they contribute to large scale law and order disturbances.
"However, suitable amendments shall have to be made in the existing laws so that we are in a position to effectively deal with any conspiracy to breach the spirit of brotherhood," he said.
The Chief Minister also voiced his apprehensions that more attempts would be made in the country to weaken the social fabric and to polarise communities in the run up to 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
