Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

9. Such tendencies and the persons should be controlled, contained and
punished severely, if found not capable of changing their attitudes through
persuasion, discussions and dialogue. The Governments want to do the
same. The Governments cannot afford to allow these tendencies to grow
and upset the applecart of communal harmony and amity. In these efforts,
the government at all levels should cooperate and are cooperating in many
ways. The Governments have their duties defined in the Constitution of
India, which they should discharge and are discharging. But, at all levels, in
all things we do, there is a scope for improvement, which should be achieved
without delays, which is what they are trying to do. The Government would
use all the just, legal and effective means and methods to achieve victory
over the menace of communal violence and disturbances and the divisive
forces, threatening the national integration.
10. There are two views expressed on the modus operandi, which the
Governments can adopt. One view is that they should be tough and as
ruthlesss as the mischief mongers are, against the persons encouraging
communal violence and divisive tendencies and perpetrating fear psychosis
and they should not be soft in their actions against them. The other view is
that they should be careful in actions they take and see that no innocent person
is hurt or killed in what they do to curb the menance of communal violence
and divisive tendencies affecting the unity of the country.
11. The Government want to be effective against mischief mongers and
criminals. They want to educate the people. They want to redress the
grievances of the disturbed citizens. They want to do justice, political,
economic, social and cultural, to one and all. They want to bring about
equality and do away with inequality and lopsided development.
12. While doing so, the Governments want to avoid causing any kind of damage
to any human being, any group of persons and any section of the society.
They want to avoid creating conditions in which some sections of the
society are branded as culprits. They know that, in no section of the society,
all persons are evil minded or good natured; Good natured innocent persons
should be given the protection which is just and they deserve and wrongdoers
are punished severely as per the law. Here, a balance between the two
extremes need be struck. In matters of any nature extreme positions do not
help. They can help to destroy, but cannot help to develop. Only the
balance is at the root of existence and reality, helpful and long lasting. The
Governments have to perform this duty of maintining the correct and just
balance. Otherwise their actions taken to solve a few problems can create
many more problems.
105