Home Ministry Rejects "Distorted" Reports Linking Its Letter To Punjab Farmers

The home ministry said a section of media has erroneously reported that the ministry has written the letter to Punjab levelling "grave charges" against the farmers of the state.

The Union Home Ministry today termed media reports as "distorted" and "misleading" which linked its letter to the Punjab government on the plight of 58 "bonded labourers" rescued in the state to the farmers' agitation and said no motive should be ascribed to a routine communication over law and order issues. The ministry said a section of media has erroneously reported that the ministry has written the letter to Punjab levelling "grave charges" against the farmers of the state. "These news reports are misleading and present a distorted and highly editorialised opinion of a simple observation about a socioeconomic problem emerging from four sensitive border districts of Punjab over a period of two years, which has been brought to the attention of this ministry by the concerned Central Armed Police Force," the home ministry said in a statement. The home ministry added: "Firstly, no motive can be ascribed to a letter issued by this ministry to a particular state or states as this is part of routine communication over law and order issues".