Referring to the recent communal tensions in the country, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday demanded an oversight mechanism to “control” social networking sites in critical situations as sensitive messages posted spread like wildfire.
As Patnaik was absent at a meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC) in New Delhi, his speech was circulated at the meeting.
He said the Centre should also “promptly” provide armed forces on request from the States concerned along with other logistics and developmental support to effectively control communal tension. This assistance should be based on an objective appreciation of ground realities and not be influenced by political considerations, he said.
With social networking sites being blamed for spread of rumours during the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar, Patnaik said, “An oversight mechanism to prevent and control such mediums (the social networking sites) in critical situations is the need of the hour.”
Appropriate initiative should be taken in this regard without affecting the general principles of freedom of speech and expression, Patnaik said.
He said all efforts should be directed towards curbing the growth of regionalism and parochialism in the country as they are a big challenge to national integration.
“There are a few fissiparous tendencies in the country fuelling divisive forces. Among these, most prominent are the religious divide, regional divide, ethnic divide and the socioeconomic divide,” he said.
Patnaik also reiterated his demand for grant of Special Category State status to Odisha for its “balanced development and to contain leftwing extremism.
He said the State Government has prescribed a manual containing elaborate instructions to prevent and contain communal disturbances. A State-level coordination committee on communal harmony has been set up while peace committees are also in place at the district and block levels.
He said text books should include lessons which emphasise the contribution made by all religious committees in evolving Indian culture.
Patnaik said his Government is committed to promoting policies aimed at building social cohesion and maintaining communal harmony as well as empowerment of women and emancipation of weaker sections.
In this respect, he suggested the Union Finance Ministry to evolve a policy through which every gram panchayat in scheduled area is covered by at least one brick and mortar branch of a scheduled commercial bank.