Date:12/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/12/stories/2008101254170800.htm

National

Stormy NIC meet likely

Vinay Kumar

RJD, LJP likely to press for action against Orissa, Karnataka

NEW DELHI: The 14th meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC), convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here for Monday, is likely to be a stormy affair as it meets in the backdrop of anti-Christian violence in Karnataka and Orissa and terror attacks in a number of cities.

Though the official agenda centres on “Social Structure — caste and identity divisions,” economic development, promotion of a feeling of security among vulnerable sections particularly minorities, education, communal harmony and other elements contributing to national integration will also be discussed.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Lok Jan Shakti Party, both constituents of the United Progressive Alliance, are likely to press for strict action against the governments of Orissa (where the BJD-BJP combine is in power) and Karnataka (ruled by the BJP), and for a ban on the Bajrang Dal. The BJP is expected to take on Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh for his views on anti-terror police operations, particularly in New Delhi’s Jamia Nagar.

The last meeting of the reconstituted 141-member NIC was held on August 31, 2005, nearly a year after the Congress-led UPA came to power. It discussed the theme of “communal harmony through governmental action, education and media.”

At that meeting, two former Prime Ministers — V.P. Singh and I. K. Gujral — demanded that NIC meet at regular intervals and review the action taken on the recommendations of the high-level body.

Mr. Gujral pointed out that NIC should not work as a mere “fire brigade” but should create an atmosphere of unity in the country. Another former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had participated in the first NIC meeting held in 1962, also attended that session.