NEW DELHI, Sept 23:
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 Dr 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.
The Chief Minister referred to last week’s visit by the Prime Minister to riot-hit Muzaffarnagar which was described by BJP as “secular tourism” and said political parties should be “a little less hypocritical”.
In an apparent reference to an attempt by BJP leader Arun Jaitley to travel to Kishtwar during communal violence there in the second week of August this year, Omar said if the Prime Minister’s visit has been called as “secular tourism”, should the thwarted attempt to travel to Kishtwar be dubbed “communal tourism”. “This sort of language doesn’t help,” he said.
Omar objected to the communal incidents in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast being treated separately in the agenda papers circulated to the members of the NIC. “Why are you treating us separately?” he asked Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
Shinde responded that this would be kept in mind and rectified in the future.
While speaking candidly about the recent communal violence in Kishtwar, he said the area had not seen such incidents for last four years.
He said that efforts by the local administration and his team of ministers, who camped in the area after the outbreak of violence on August 9, had brought the situation under control at the earliest.
Without naming BJP directly, the Chief Minister said before the 2008 State Assembly polls also an effort had been made to use the communal card.
After the recent violence in Kishtwar, attempts were also made to spread trouble to Jammu but his Government had brought the situation under control within 24 hours.
Omar suggested customised software for keeping a tab on social networking sites spreading hatred on the Internet.
The Chief Minister said 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,” Omar said.
Omar said the meeting assumes greater significance at this juncture when the divisive elements and forces are desperate to undermine the centuries old bonds of communal harmony and thereby harm the secular fabric of the country.
“The trust deficit amongst different communities needs to be bridged to promote national integration. We should encourage regular interactions between different communities by organising State and national level interactions, cultural exchange programmes, symposia, etc., so as to provide them an opportunity to interact, understand each other and learn about their peaceful co-existence,” he said.
The Chief Minister also suggested roping in NGOs for launching sustained campaign in this regard.
“It is equally important that students pursuing studies in other States and those in other professions are offered a conducive and safe environment to enable them to realise their dreams.
“This will be a positive step in boosting their confidence and encourage them to move to different parts of the country for seeking educational, employment opportunities and contribute to nation building,” he said.
Omar stressed on the need to be fully alive to the situation and take all precautionary measures to maintain law and order and promote communal harmony at the State and the national level in view of the ensuing elections to Lok Sabha and five State Assemblies.
Underlining that “Kashmiriyat” is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits, Omar today urged the Centre to enhance the cash incentive and jobs for youths from the displaced community who want to return to the Valley.
Omar said a revised proposal has been submitted to the Centre for enhancing the ceiling for various incentives available under the PM’s Package for the Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants in Kashmir Valley, announced in 2008.
The Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir is a pluralistic, multilingual, multi-religious and multi-ethnic state which does not have a history of communal riots.
“When the entire country was in the throes of partition in 1947, the communal harmony in the State provided the only ray of hope to Mahatma Gandhiji. The State went through a tumultuous period in the early 90s, which saw the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir Valley,” he said.
“People of the State are conscious of the fact that the composite culture of the State, often referred to as “Kashmiriyat” is incomplete without the return of the Kashmiri Pandits,” he said, adding that the state government is keen to rehabilitate and re-settle Kashmiri migrants in the Valley.
He said the State Government has proposed enhancing the cash incentive from Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for re-construction of houses and also provision of additional 3000 jobs for Kashmiri migrant youths who would return to the Valley. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel