The National Integration Council has condemned all forms of violence intended to disturb communal harmony in the country. In its resolution passed in its meeting today, the Council has sought prompt action against those indulging in it.

It has also sought taking all measures to preserve and strengthen the harmonious relationship among all communities and enable all citizens to live their life with dignity and honour. The Council resolved that government and all stakeholders will take all measures for resolving differences and disputes among the people within the legal framework. The Council condemned sexual abuse and violence against women, seeking firm action against the culprits and their speedy prosecution.

Earlier, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that states should crackdown on elements responsible for creating communal violence irrespsective of their political affiliations or influence. He asked parties to refrain from taking adventage of communal violence.

The Prime Minister called for dealing firmly and promptly with threats to national integrity, gender relations and communal harmony. In his concluding remarks at the National integration Council Meeting in New Delhi today, Dr Singh pitched for promoting an atmosphere conducive to communal harmony. The Prime Minister stressed on the need to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, eradicate manual scavenging and stop violence against women.

The government will expedite the enactment of Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence law. Briefing reporters at the end of National Integration Council meeting, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that the differences on certain clauses of the Bill have been sorted out.