The Central Government is taking the following steps to maintain communal harmony and peace in the country:

1. Providing assistance to the State Governments for improving their policing infrastructure, besides sharing intelligence with them.

2... Constitution of a special force, called Rapid Action Force, for assisting the State Governments in controlling communal situations.

3. Guidelines ... issued from time to time, drawing the attention of the State Governments to the need for taking action against persons spreading ill-will, hatred or disharmony between members of different communities.

4.(Advice to) Chief Secretaries of some sensitive States .. to issue suitable instructions to the district law and order authorities to respond immediately to the complaints of atrocities/harassment of the minorities and initiate prompt and effective action to identify and punish the guilty persons.

The Government is firm that acts of violence against the minority communities, whenever and in whatever form they occur, must be dealt with sternly and exemplary punishment awarded to the perpetrators. (Source: LSUQ No. 986 dated 6 December, 1999 by G. Mukherjee)