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New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) The role of social media in fanning communal violence was the focus of many speeches delivered Monday here at the National Integration Council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The prime minister broached the issue in his inaugural address, and said there was need to prevent the misuse of social media by elements looking to foment trouble.

After the meet, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the government wanted to ban social media but it was not easy.

"Northeast chief ministers spoke about it. We are eager to ban it but it is not easy," Shinde told reporters.

Referring to the recent communal violence in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh that left 48 dead, the prime minister said there were cases in which fake videos were circulated, causing deeper divides between communities.

He said social media could be used to cement bonds.

"Social media provides the opportunity to state one's views freely, and there is need to maintain this. But it is also important that we do not allow people wanting to create trouble to misuse it," the prime minister said.

He also referred to the misuse of social media last year, which led to many people from the northeastern states being forced to flee their homes and jobs in south India.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma were among those who raised concerns over the impact of social media.

Yadav said there was no effective mechanism at present to stop the spread of hatred-inducing material on social media.

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Social media flayed at National Integration Meet