The Punjabi Durbar programme of Radio Pakistan has chosen to hurt the feelings of Hindus in border areas by calling the Goddess Kali as “bloodthirsty”. In its recent broadcast, Radio Pakistan said that Hindus sacrifice innocent lives to their Gods and Goddesses and described Kali, who fights evils in the world, as bloodthirsty. The programme has surprised local residents and some temple priests in border villages. They say Radio Pakistan staff should educate themselves and learn that Goddess Kali is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. She took on the image of Kali to kill a demon.

People in the border villages feel that the broadcasts should not make casual remarks about Indian gods. People living in villages are quite religious-minded and any attempt to tarnish the image of Gods would make them angry. Everyone knows presently Pakistan is faced with political turbulence, challenge from Taliban and fundamental forces. The U.S. is exerting pressure to take visible actions to root-out extremism.

Listeners on the Indian side of the border feel that, despite its own house lying in so much disorder, Pakistan is finding out nothing but throwing mud on feelings of people in India to create communal tensions. But will Radio Pakistan ever learn?