Considerable improvement in communal situation:Patil

New Delhi May 16 (UNI) Home Minister Shivraj Patil today claimed to ''a considerable improvement'' in the communal situation in the country even though admitting that ''a lot remains yet to be done in this regard''.

Responding to a Short Duration Discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the communal violence in Vadodara and other parts of the country, the Home Minister reeled out statistics of the past five years to buttress his claims even while admitting that there was no room for complacence.

Minister Patil called upon all responsible persons -- be they from the political, social or any other field -- to ensure that communal harmony prevailed in the country -- known across the world for its tolerance and amity.

Referring to the recent violence in Vadodara, Mr Patil opined that the demolition of the Muslim mausoleum there -- which led to the violence -- could have been avoided thus averting the riotous situation there earlier this month.

He said the local authorities should have taken note of the sentiments attached to the mausoleum not only by members of the minority community alone but also be those belonging to other faiths.

''Besides, the authorities should be careful when dealing with structures which have been in existence for a large span of time...

as in the case of the Vadodara mausoleum,'' the Minister suggested.

Editors: Here please pick suitably from earlier series.

UNI DG RP HT2032