'Social networking sites must have servers in India'

Seeking the Centre's immediate attention for controlling social networking sites, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said these companies should be asked to set up their servers in India so that "miscreants" posting proactive comments are booked at the earliest.

Gehlot drew the attention of those present at the Chief Ministers Conference in New Delhi, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, that communal elements had posted some proactive comments on Facebook which resulted in communal tension in a region of his state.

"Effective action was taken immediately against the miscreants," he said and added that while his government complied with the idea of Freedom of expression, but it should not be misused by communal elements and needs to be dealt with all severity.

"I would appreciate if these sites could develop a system which by itself prevents posting of material with communal and anti-national overtones," he said.

"As the servers of these social networking sites are located outside the country, it becomes an arduous task to obtain any information related to such incidents.

"I would suggest that the government of India should develop a system which can help in obtaining the information from these servers on real-time basis or as an alternative making it mandatory for these companies to set up their servers in India," Gehlot said.

He also stressed for capacity buildings by increasing the strength of police forces and imparting professional trainings to them to meet internal security challenges.

"Sardar Patel Police and Security University is being established at Jodhpur with an initial budget of Ts 20 crore to study and analyse issues related to policing and security. Setting up of this University would enhance the capabilities and effectiveness of Rajasthan Police," Gehlot said.

Gehlot also suggested the Centre to make suitable changes in some of the provisions of the law to strengthen counter terrorism capabilities.

"The rules, regulations and laws should be suitably amended to enable state security agencies to access the databases of banking sector, passport office, Railways and Aviation sector and of NIA and NTRO. This access will facilitate collection of intelligence as well as maintenance of effective surveillance," he said.

Besides "the government needs to develop a technique for interception of satellite calls for modern day needs and the same should be shared with states," the chief minister said.

Highlighting the rising incidents of smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), internet and multi-level marketing frauds, he said his government was taking these offences seriously.

"There has been a rising trend in the occurrence of economic offences in the last few years, Attempts to smuggle fake currency notes across the border continue unabated. Internet frauds are also on the rise. In addition, multi-level marketing concept is being used to cheat people on a large scale.

"The crimes committed by these multi-level marketing agencies are not limited to one state but have pan-India dimensions...The state government has taken these offences very seriously," he said and sought for coordination with other states on the issue.

Gehlot demanded a separate fund to improve the traffic system across the country to minimise road accidents.

He also stressed on the need for coordination and cooperation between the Central and state security forces.

"The cycle of terror can only be broken when there is coordination and cooperation between the police and security agencies of different states and the Centre...

"Threat to internal security cannot be treated as merely a police problem. It has to be seen in the social, economic and political milieu. The problems of inequality, discrimination and deprivation are at the root of this problem...The task before us is definitely daunting, but together we shall meet the challenge successfully," the chief minister said.