States asked to tackle online radicalisation

Responding to a written question, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed the Lok Sabha that meetings under the chairmanship of Home Minister and Home Secretary have been held wherein states were advised to formulate a framework to tackle radicalisation through internet and social media. He said it was the firm stand of the government not to arrest or harass anyone for alleged radicalisation in the absence of solid evidence. 

Moreover, the government asserted that no efforts will be spared to curb the menace of Left Wing extremists in the country even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh said brave soldiers and officers of security forces “will continue to respond with a firm resolve” towards elimination of Left Wing extremism.  

Making a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha on the Sukma ambush of March 11 wherein 12 CRPF personnel were killed, Singh said, “Unprecedented success of the Security Forces of late has led to evident uneasiness among the Left-Wing Extremist Groups.”  

However, the Home Minister said, “There is a need for introspection on this incident” and so he has directed the DG, CRPF to conduct a detailed inquiry into the attack so that the “lapses that led to the incident” can be identified. 

At the end of the statement, while Congress leader M Mallikarjun Kharge wanted to seek some clarifications especially about “intelligence failure,” Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said there is no precedence of members asking questions or clarification to suo motu statements. 

“Let us not start any new precedent,” she said. Meanwhile, in a written reply, MoS for Home Hansraj Ahir said, Pakistan continues to violate ceasefire and supports infiltration.

Congress and  its UPA allies in the Lok Sabha strongly protested the alleged efforts to install  BJP government in Goa and Manipur, with the main Opposition party walking out of the House twice.

A belligerent Congress repeatedly sought to raise the issue, including during Question Hour, but Speaker Sumitra Mahajan did not give them permission. BJP’s efforts to form governments in Goa and Manipur despite not being the single largest party is being opposed by the Congress. Members of the party, NCP and RJD raised the issue during Question Hour. Congress leader in the House Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that democracy was being murdered.  He added that if they are not allowed to raise the issue in the House, where else would they go.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said since the Congress leader has used “strong words,” they should either be expunged or the government be allowed to respond. The Speaker said “nothing beyond the questions and answers will be allowed to go on record.” The Congress, NCP and RJD members then staged a walkout. After coming back to the House, the Congress members again sought to raise the issue when Zero Hour was not taken up and legislative business started. 

When Kharge sought to raise the issue of the Goa Governor inviting the BJP for government formation, “No matters concerning Governors can be raised in the House,” Mahajan ruled amid angry protests from the Opposition. The Speaker also ruled that there will not be any Zero Hour.   Kharge was being supported by other members like Tariq Anwar (NCP), P Karunakaran (CPI-M) and Jayprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD).