Uddhav Thackeray nominated to NIC

New Delhi, June 4 (ANI): Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray has been nominated to the National Integration Council (NIC) that was reconstituted on April 5 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

"Uddhav Thackeray, Executive President, Shiv Sena has also been nominated to the reconstituted NIC in the category 'Leaders of Regional Political Parties', vide order dated June 3, 2010," a Ministry of Home Affairs release said.

The NIC has 147 members, including Union Ministers, Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories with Legislatures.

It also includes leaders of national and regional political parties, chairpersons of national commissions, eminent journalists, public figures, and representatives of business and women's organisations.

Set up in the early 1960s by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the NIC held its first meeting in 1962. The council reviews matters relating to national integration and makes recommendations over such issues.

The NIC aims at finding ways and means to combat the menace of ommunalism, casteism and regionalism. (ANI)