Asserting that disruptive forces are again raising their ugly heads and vitiating the atmosphere in various parts of the country, Rajasthan's Home Minister Virendra Beniwal has said the growing use of cyber space to inflame communal passions by posting blasphemous and provocative material, has increased the potential for communal flare ups.
"A suggestion for the central govt. is to initiate immediate efforts for introducing self-regulating mechanisms for social sites. The increasingly growing popularity of social networking sites amongst youth can be positively harnessed if systemic efforts are made in this direction," Beniwal said, while reading the written speech of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at 16th meeting of National Integration Council here yesterday.
"There is a need to formalize policies to encourage production of more and more audio-visual content promoting national integration feelings," he added.
He said that this tendency is assuming serious proportions threatening the unity of the nation and stability of its social fabric.
"This platform shall definitely provide an opportunity to all the states for addressing important issues in holistic manner," he added.
Emphasizing that Rajasthan is a peaceful state with age old traditions of communal amity and brotherhood, Beniwal said: "Every community of the state is essentially peace loving and people take lead in resolving their disputes through mutual consultation. The state government is making every effort to take all communities, religious groups and castes together,"
He said that in last few years communal tensions have emerged as major threat to internal peace and law and order in the state.
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"Main reasons behind communal incidents include disputes arising out of religious processions, encroachments and illegal constructions of religious idols, books or places, misuse of loudspeakers at and around places of worship, cow slaughter and smuggling of bovine animals, inter religion marriages and affairs," he added.
He further said Rajasthan government has issued detailed directions to all field functionaries form time to time for preventing and handling communal situations.
"Collection of advance intelligence related to communal and cast conflicts has been given special priority by state intelligence branch and police stations as well," he added.
Beniwal said public participation is being promoted in managing civil disputes through CLG (community liaison group) and peace committees in Rajasthan.
He said the safety and security of women is an area of prime concern and utmost priority for state government and law enforcement agencies. The state government has taken various steps to ensure safety and security of women.