By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : Terming the recent communal violence in Orissa and Karnataka as “most disturbing and dangerous,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said those who threaten communal harmony, integrity and peaceful coexistence deserve “very deterrent punishment”.
He also said that an atmosphere of “hatred and violence” is being “artificially generated”.
“There are forces deliberately encouraging such tendencies and also spawning militant outfits who engage in irrational violence. These need to be firmly dealt with,” he said inaugurating the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting here.
Noting that perhaps the most disturbing and dangerous aspect today is the assault on country’s composite culture, Singh said “today, we see fault-lines developing between, and among, communities.”
Holding that there has been considerable debate in the country on ways to handle issues of sectarian and communal violence, he said, “there cannot be two views on the fact that such attempts must be thwarted with the full power of a state that is intent on protecting its democratic foundations.
“Those who threaten our communal harmony, integrity and peaceful coexistence deserve very deterrent punishment,” the Prime Minister said.
The day-long meeting is being attended by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers and Chief Ministers.