The Maharashtra government on Thursday appealed to the Centre to ban all Internet sites showing alleged anti-Islamic films that have led to recent worldwide protests.
In an attempt to prevent any possible violent reaction in the state, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and state home minister R.R. Patil on Thursday, held a meeting with Muslim leaders and editors of Urdu dailies. They also appealed to the Muslim leaders to inform people during Friday’s namaz about the steps taken by the state government against the controversial films.
“There is a conspiracy to create communal disharmony by spreading the anti-Islamic film with the help of social networking sites,” he told the religious leaders, adding that that he had spoken to Union home minister Sushil-kumar Shinde and recommended blocking of objectionable web content.
“The state police has requested the director general of Computer Emer-gency Response Team to block controversial films and cartoons. I have spoken to the Union home minister regarding strong sentiments of the Muslim community,” he informed the gathering.
Mr Chavan also issued directives to the police department to hold dialogues with Muslim leaders and maulvis throughout the state so that it will help maintain the law and order situation.
In the meeting, the police department informed that the action to block controversial websites was being taken with the help of the Centre and the process to register offences against people involved in these films was also on.
Some of the leaders that represented the Muslim community were; Mehmood Daryabadi, Sarfaraz Arzoo and A.N. Khalid. Mumbai police commissioner Dr Satyapal Singh was also present at the meeting.