Pakistans Radios Punjabi Darbar programme lacks credibility

Over a decade has lapsed since normalcy has been restored in Punjab, but Radio Pakistan in its Punjabi Darbar programme continues its propaganda against the State administration.

By Ravinder Singh Robin

Amritsar, Sept 13 : Over a decade has lapsed since normalcy has been restored in Punjab, but Radio Pakistan in its "Punjabi Darbar" programme continues its propaganda against the State administration.

Officials of the State Government feel that such propaganda exposes the confusion that prevails across the border.

Rajpal Meena, Inspector General of the Border Range (Amritsar), said that such blatant propaganda has no credibility and "The youth of today is aware of such propaganda, and will never fall prey to their machinations."

Punjab has a 556-kilometer-long international border with Pakistan and has witnessed the worst phase of militancy which lasted over a decade between the 1980s and mid 1990s.

The senior police officials said that centres have been set up to provide speedy assistance to the public in the event of any eventuality, including the medical facilities, and supply of essential commodities, besides maintaining a constant watch on anti-national and anti-social elements; and maintaining a liaison between the administration and various State agencies.

After conducting a detailed survey of the border areas, an adequate number of villages depending upon their population and their distance, had been attached with each police assistance centre.

Besides providing assistance and relief to the border residents, patrol parties undertook recce's in their respective areas at night to check the movement of undesirable elements.

The centres were also tasked with responsibility of countering adverse propaganda and rumour mongering.

The border villages where centres were established included Thather-Ke-Kalan, Dharamkot Randhawa, Dera Baba Nanak and Shahpur Gorya in Dera Baba Nanak and Dostpur, Rossa and Rura in Kalnaur, the police officials said.

In so far tackling the drug menace in areas falling in the border belt was concerned, the state police in collaboration with various non-government organisations (NGOs) and general public have launched frequent drive against the menace.

The focus of the police is on community policing in the border region, the officials added.

Despite the several gestures by India and Pakistan to improve relations between the two countries, a level of bilateral distrust still prevails.

People here claim that the propaganda spewed out by Radio Pakistan is a part of a larger sinister effort to derail harmony in India.

Bhupinder Singh Sandhu, President of the Aalmi Punjabi Virasat Foundation, said, "Pakistan's intention towards India is not very fair, as they are running such a blatant propaganda programme."

He said that during his recent visit to Pakistan he had met those in-charge of the 'Punjabi Darbar' programme and was told that they are helpless, as they were receiving orders 'from above' to blast India .

Sandhu said that if Pakistan and India are really sincere towards establishing peace in South Asia, both should come forward with clear hearts to make bilateral relations stronger than ever before.

After its crusade against militancy, Punjab now faces the menace of drug trafficking.

Rather than being a centre of drug trafficking, Punjab is a victim of drug abuse, senior officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

They claimed that a strict vigil by the Border Security Force had checked infiltration along the Punjab border with Pakistan.The State police was also on high alert to nab narco- smugglers, they added.

ANI