Bhopal: The chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and former chief justice J S Varma has stressed the need to identify the divisive forces and the role of media in checking them.

Delivering the key-note address last evening at the first session of the two-day conference on "Divisive Trend in Society and The Role of Mass Media, State and The Citizens", he said, "Communalism is creating deep divisions in our pluralistic social order and people are being divided on wrong issues by attacking Democratic institutions."

This has posed a serious threat to our national unity, the NHRC chairman said and added that media could play an important constructive role in these circumstances.

The media should also understand that citizens have the right to get the correct information, he said.

The conference is being organised by the National Media Centre, Delhi with the co- operation of the press institute of India, Madhya Pradesh Madhyam and Makhanlal Chaturvedi University of Journalism, Bhopal.

Referring to the speech of Madhya Pradesh minister for public relations, Manvendra Singh that citizens must discharge their duties properly to strengthen national unity, he emphasised the need to distinguish between freedom and licentiousness.

"The first and paramount duty of the citizen is to abide by the Constitution," he said and called upon media to be alert while discharging its duties which would greatly help strengthen national unity.

He released a souvenir 'Media and changing social scenario' on the occasion.

PTI