Radio Pakistan falsely projects negative impact of farmers suicides and Blue Star operation in East Punjab

Chandigarh, Aug. 30 : Pakistan Radio in its latest anti-India diatribe has tried to provoke public sentiments again over the 1984 Blue Star Operation and incidents of farmers' suicides citing non-remunerative prices of their agriculture produce as the reason for the latter.

In this week's Punjabi Durbar programme, Radio Pakistan has tried to win the sympathy of Punjabis' by condemning the operation and reiterating that the farmers' facing a difficult time.

Local intellectuals, however, have criticized this malicious propaganda and claimed that Radio Pakistan has always sought to create a divide that could affect the local public's feeling towards the government.

"Though one cannot deny that some farmers committed suicide last year, the figures were not as large as quoted in the programme. In a probe ordered by Punjab Government, 12 farmers were found to have committed suicide for the same reason. Radio Pakistan exaggerates figures to create sensation over such issues. It seems that the Pakistan media has some vested interest in painting a negative picture of the state of Punjab," claimed Ajay Bhardwaj, a senior journalist with the Daily News Analysis Punjab.

On the issue of the Blue Star operation, Ajay said: "People of Punjab have moved ahead of the Blue Star operation and gradually things have moved to normalcy all around. We, the residents of Punjab, know better about the State than anyone else. The situation here is not at all bad."

"Pakistan always intends to disturb peace in Punjab. It's their habit to provoke and sensationalise issues that don't even exist at times. They cook up stories and create unnecessary hype. It's common for Radio Pakistan and Pakistan television to do anti-India propaganda. It clearly seems yet another gimmick of their international politics," he added.

ANI