Punjab villagers resent Radio Pakistan allegations

Abohar, March 30 (ANI): People living on the border villages of Punjab are fed up with the malicious anti-India campaign being carried on by the Radio Pakistan at a time when the people of the country are becoming victims of Taliban terror.

They are demanding that the Government of India should tell Pakistani Government to ban the Punjabi Durbar programme if it continues broadcasting programmes aimed at spreading disharmony.

Villagers in Chanenwala in Punjab's Ferozepur district consider Pakistan Radio's propaganda is similar to any 'terrorist attack', as it always intends to divide people on caste and religious lines.

"Our village is a kilometre from border and people of all the castes and communities whether Sikhs or Jat Sikhs live happily together. The programmes under Punjabi Durbar programmes try to instigate hatred and communal tension in India," said Amit Kumar, a resident in Chananwala Village.

Pakistan Radio has also been taking interest in spreading rumours that there is no democracy, elections are fraudulent and citizens are being forced to give votes.

Such allegations have surprised listeners on the border villages, who feel that the radio programmes attribute the events taking place in Pakistan as if they were happening in India.

Election process in both the countries show an altogether different picture, as has been witnessed by the world for decades. Villagers want Pakistan Radio to first look at the challenges of terrorism and internal conflict faced by people on its soil and then raise fingers on others.

"People across the world know that during former President General Musharraf's rule people were forced to cast their votes," said Amit Kumar, local, Chananwala village.

"Programs like Punjabi Darbar should not be broadcast. I am a Sikh and I am saying that we are not pressurized here in India to do anything," said Resham Singh, local, Chananwala village. The Radio programmes try to insinuate that Muslims and Sikhs are being ill-treated in India. The truth is that the Hindus, Muslims and the Sikhs live together here and Pakistan is trying to instigate the world with its forged statements," said Dalip Kumar, another resident in Chananwala village.

People along the international border were aghast that Pakistan is broadcasting such programmes when Taliban is attacking their own Police Training establishment hardly twelve kilometres from India. (ANI)