Even as it blocked about 80 more websites, New Delhi on Sunday demanded that Islamabad crack the whip on those using social media networks to spread communal hate in several parts of India.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde utilised a telephone call from his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik to convey New Delhi’s anxiety over the misuse of social media-networking sites in spreading morphed pictures and concocted tales and vitiating communal harmony here. He urged Islamabad to clamp down on such elements and help restore normality.
Id greeting
Mr. Malik phoned to greet Mr. Shinde on the eve of Id.
The Centre on Saturday attributed the spread of panic among the northeast people in States such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra to rumours from Pakistan. It confirmed that 76 websites had circulated morphed pictures, most of which were uploaded in Pakistan, in a bid to spread hate and violence, and blocked them.
On Sunday, the Centre blocked 80 more sites which, according to informed sources, were found hosting inflammatory and objectionable contents.
Both Mr. Shinde and Mr. Malik agreed to pursue cooperation in rooting out terror in all its form and manifestation. Thanking Mr. Malik for the cooperation, Mr. Shinde hoped the gesture would improve the relations.
The two discussed other issues too and Mr. Malik is said to have stressed on Pakistan’s commitment to bringing to justice those behind the Mumbai terror attack. He invited Mr. Shinde to Islamabad to sign a revised visa treaty.
11 thrown out of train, two die
Shiv Sahay Singh reports from Kolkata:
Two persons were killed and nine injured, some of them seriously, after being thrown out of a Guwahati-bound special train from Bangalore in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, railway officials said on Sunday.
The train was carrying northeast people fleeing Bangalore following rumours that those from the region would be attacked.
The incident occurred at 9.30 p.m. on Saturday between Belakoba and Raninagar shortly after the train left New Jalpaiguri station.
Spokesperson of the North East Frontier Railway S Hazong said, “Two persons have died and the nine injured were admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.” Security would be stepped up on Guwahati-bound trains, he added.
Keywords: Assam riots, Northeast people exodus, Sushilkumar Shinde, Rehman Malik, social networking sites, Indo-Pak relationship, R.K. Singh
Let us reason before questioning - How many of the people who fled
cities were ones who had regular access to internet .It is a well
known fact that a lot of NE people come to work in restaurants ,
construction sites , beauty parlours and othe forms of labours .It is
impossible for them to have access to Internet . The most commonest
form of communication is SMS , TV -both of which can be 'internally
controlled '.It might be true that the websites which show morphed
pics are from PAK -but that doesn't make it a convenient scape goat .
I didn't see a lot of educated NE people flee .
The government is diverting the importance of tending to internal
threats ,some of which are carefully planned and executed .BTW ,in
this world of technical advancement ,it doesn't take long to track
down and block such sites ,even before they could become popular.
People should not fall for this usual -"PAK is responsible" statements .For, even if they were the source ,they needed middlemen to execute .
I feel we need to introspect. Are North east Indians have really been
targeted or rumors have been created that they will be targeted by
Muslims so as to evoke communal tension.Lets find out who will benefit
most by trigerring communal violence in India. As history is witness
whether its in Mumbai Riots of 92-93 , or Gujrat riots of 2002, some
particular party has benefited.
Shinde: Crack the whip here in India and in Mumbai first before shooting your mouth off to Pakistan and looking a fool in International circles. If your Govt in Maharashtra had dealt firmly with the Mumbai violence and arrensted the culprits caught on photograph this SMS and violence against NE Indians would never have happened. Moreoever, you and your Govt are still not willing tostop the illegal immigration from Bangaladesh because these people living in slums are your vote bank. Tell me - how can Pakistan based terrorists know the exact Cell numbers of all NE Indians - the problems is squarely within India and lets not blame Pakistan.
Even assuming that there were provocative messages and images from across the border, if that is perceived as sufficient for a section of our people to flee for their lives, then it means there is something wrong with us.
Its a terrible thing that we have to depend on the mercy of pakistan for
the internal law and order of this country. How many websites will get
to block those people will crate a new one. Blocking websites is
voilation of freedom of speech and article 19 of the constitution.
Some lateral thinking. What has any govt, state central or local done about national integration? Social harmony and peaceful coexistence in civil societies requires, like gardening regular maintenance and weeding. At the most immediate level what does any Indian understand about the rich cultural heritage of North eastern India? Can anyone so much name the states, their capital or the government in place? We need to have regular social festivals where people from all parts of India are made to feel welcome in every state in India. There should be a local food week showcasing ethnic cousines from all over India. Music, dance, rituals, dress, art, language, literature, poetry, drama, there is scope for everything. Instead of wasting money on schemes such as MNREGA, money should be poured into public facilities that felicitate such activities. All migrant workers and students should be made to feel welcome and safe. Safety of guest workers and students is everyone's responsibility.
Dear Indians. Pakistan has been and will continue to spread rumours as it is now proved to be a new ammunition for them. The world knows that Pakistan is a failed state - right from Jinnah's days. India has always encouraged growth and progress with brotherhood, tolerance and peace at all levels for all the communities living in India. What makes the current issue shocking and surprising is that inspite of knowing that the details published on the websites are purely rumours - we have resorted to violence against our own brothers. Isn't it a big shame on us Indians. Firstly allowing a failed outsider to light-the-fire and have the last laugh and secondly not believing in our own brothers and sisters.
Truth hurts and its human nature, such incidents tell us the reality of
out culture. True colors are not seen every day in our life, the day and
night is usually filled with assumptions and such incidents introduce
the truth, at least to those who can analyse the culture aptly.
I agree with Pranjal Barman about the need for introspection. It is much easier to blame outsiders while indefinitely postponing the kind of soul-searching and concrete action that is needed within the country.
It would be nice If the Government of India would identify some of these sites, it would be interesting for one to make their own judgement If the government of India has a reasonable claim, of course governments have a multitude of other reasons to curtail the flow of information. Are these sites just disseminating information that India would rather keep in wraps or are they actively fomenting trouble in India?
Minister Shinde's message is timely and see that social harmony is not disturbed in India by anyonein any manner.Respecting all religions,people,cultures is what makes us closer to God Almighty....I am reminded of that one line from Carolina's diary, writtten by a negress woman who faced exploitation thru out...that is " IN DEATH WE ALL ARE EQUAL"...
If India isan IT giant, sure it can clock off these sites. But more impt question is why should these messages, web sites sway people to indulge in violence? Even if these people think the violence is justified, why should they not fear law? By calling Malik, the UPA govt has only diplayed its profound weakness. God knows what this govt is promising Pakistan for stopping messages, which would die out any way if the govt were to be firm. Let us all think of India's good.
It is a matter of immense satisfaction that the exodus of the North-Easterners from various cities has abated thanks to the measures initiated by the authorities as well as the concerned citizens and the civil society Groups across the country. The unprecedented exodus of the citizens in the independent India and the unusually rare initiatives of the authorities, the citizens and the civil society Groups have yielded speedy results in reassuring the concerned "outsiders" and the frightened family members back at their home-states. The media, though initially played up the exodus, later on understood the repercussions and immediately engaged themselves in a fire-fighting mode. Once again the country-man have proved that we have not failed the makers of the our Constitution. WE, the people of India, are really brothers and sisters. It is also once again underscored that no anti-Indian forces can find success in disintegrating our country.
Yes Pranjal Barman sums it up succinctly . Thumbs up to him for speaking our minds.
No need to add anymore to the above comment which tells the truth. This government
is deep in trouble North,South, East and West and so why does it want to antagonize
our brothers and sisters from Pakistan also?...to trigger off unrest with a neighboring country too? Please help the North Easterners set up cottage industries in their own
homeland where they can enjoy their culture and the comfort of their own homes and
send the illegal Bangla Deshi to the employers of the ones who fled in the various
cities experiencing the exodus. In this global corporate world, one can survive only if
one has no rent to pay and if one can get sustenance from one's own land. The hand
to mouth existence they have in the cities is certainly not going to take care of their
future. But giving them solar electricity, and some cottage industries, and reinstating
their rich culture will help them tremendously in the long run
@Pranjal, Minister`s allegations are not based on hearsay but based on the IP addresses being traced back to Pakistan from where the loading of morphed images on the 100 odd websites took place. Technology does not lie. You need to understand that it is mass exodus based on rumours and those spreading rumours have been traced back to Pakistan. These are no borders in the cyber space. You need to understand what the honourbale Minister and the Home Secretary said before lecturing them and defending Pakistan.
Mr. Home Minister, just asking to Pak to do something in the matter will
not serve any purpose. As we have been asking in case of Mumbai for
almost 4 years. You should crack down the local persons & punish them
hardly who are providing infrastructure to outsiders for creating panic
environment in our country.
Dear Sushil Kumar Shinde, the elements creating social disharmony are in your backyard. Its of absolutely no use to point the fingers to Pakistan everytime you politicians face the Herculean task of maintaining social harmony in the Nation. Face inwards, open your eyes and look properly and you will see that the communal tensions are being bred inside the country itself by some communal leaders. Please stop playing this dirty game of politics. Kindly have some mercy upon the common people. They want you politicians to address the root cause of the problem and not beat about the bush by turning a blind eye to the anti social elements inside our own country. By doing so you are putting the future of the whole Nation in jeopardy.
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