Minorities feel they are being unfairly targeted: Manmohan Singh

The minority communities often feel they are being unfairly targeted in the "aftermath of unfortunate incidents", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said, inaugurating the National Integration Council meet, which is to debate the communal violence bill.

Singh said while the law should be allowed to take its own course, the investigating agencies should be free of biases and prejudices of any kind.

"It is a matter of great satisfaction that in recent years, relations among various communities have by and large remained harmonious," the prime minister observed.

"Members of this council have played an active role in ensuring that people respond with maturity to developments that may otherwise flare up communal tempers."

"Nevertheless, we need to maintain a continuous vigil in this regard. We also need to recognise that members of the minority communities often have a perception of being unfairly targeted by law enforcement agencies in the aftermath of unfortunate incidents," he said.

His remarks come in the wake of recent investigations by security agencies into the role of Hindutva groups in bomb attacks like the Ajmer Sharief Dargah and the Hyderabad Mecca Masjid, both in 2007. Earlier, the investigating agencies had suspected the role extremist groups from the minority community for the attacks.

"While law must take its own course, we need to ensure that our investigating agencies are free from biases and prejudices of any kind. The media also has to play an increasingly important and constructive role in promoting peace and harmony in our society," he added.

The communal violence bill seeks to hold state governments and functionaries responsible for any targeted attacks on minority communities and for stricter punishments against perpetrators of violence against any particular minority or downtrodden communities.