Chandigarh, Feb 5: The people of Punjab have strongly rebutted Pakistan Radio allegations that the Central Government has discriminatory attitude towards them.

In one of its recent broadcasts 'Punjabi Durbar' programme of Pakistan Radio has alleged that the Centre is diverting water from Punjab to other areas by constructing canals and dams.

A S Prashar, who is a senior journalist, has termed this as propaganda, which seeks to spread falsehood. "No water has gone out of Punjab. If there is water crisis in Punjab and agriculture is being affected, the farmers of Punjab would have sought some alternative to their cycle of wheat and paddy," Parashar suggested.

Work on the Sutlej-Yamuna canal has been stalled for over ten years. The Reddy Commission, he pointed out, is looking into the matter related to Sutlej Yamuna link canal.

According to experts, Punjab is a riparian state and the State Government is free to take its own decisions and it was not true that required water is being taken away from the people of Punjab.

In Punjab dams are managed by Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) since 1947.

The broadcasts that are aired from Lahore try repeatedly to mislead those who are living along the Indo-Pak border of the state. The propaganda has little impact but it evokes unhappiness that people from across the border spread falsehood.

When asked to comment on Punjabi Durbar allegation that Hindus in India are conspiring against Sikhs, Parashar said: " It is an ISI 's old agenda to keep alive some issues and divisions in Indian Punjab."

Talking about Punjabi Durbar prediction that India cannot become superpower by 2020 with 70 per cent of its population being poor, Parashar said: "Now we have become self-dependent in terms of food grains."

"How many countries of the world falls into this category. The network of telecom, television, satellites, space links, infrastructure and research is widening day by day, and defence sector too has progressed, " said Parashar, adding, "We are producing state of the art things in India."

Punjab has become a land of boundless opportunities, offering distinct advantages for agriculture, investment and industry, and it seems that Pakistan cannot digest this fact and cannot see a prosperous and developed Punjab, he said. (ANI)