Meeting against the backdrop of Muzaffarnagar riots, the National Integration Council today called for a collective effort to contain communalism as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared that threat from divisive forces to the nation's integrity must be dealt with firmly.
Wrapping up a day-long meeting of NIC, the Prime Minister said a national effort by people of all sections of society including politicians is needed to prevent incidents of communal violence.
Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, attended by Union Ministers, political leaders and eminent personalities from media, business and industry, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said almost all members pointed out that there are narrow and partisan vested interests behind communal violence and that collective effort is needed to contain the menace.
The misuse of social media to spread objectionable content and hatred among communities came under attack from the Prime Minister and a number of Chief Ministers who demanded some mechanism to check its uncontrolled use.
Theere were demands for an oversight mechanism to prevent and control the social media from running riot in such situations.
