New Delhi, Feb. 6: The Sashastra Seema Bal may start operating FM radio channels along the border areas of Nepal and Bhutan so that the Prime Minister's Mann ki Baat can be heard in remote locations.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh today urged the force to operate the FM channels while addressing a graduation parade of assistant commandants in Srinagar in Uttarakhand.

"Rajnath Singh said the SSB should also think of operating FM radio channels in the border areas so that the Prime Minister's ' Mann Ki Baat' programme could also be heard in the remote locations," a Union home ministry release said.

"If necessity arises, I can also find time to address our jawans posted in border areas through these SSB-operated FM channels," Rajnath said.

Home ministry sources suggested that Rajnath's proposal for airing Mann ki Baat could be a way of ensuring pro-India propaganda reaches remote locations that, according to intelligence agencies, can only hear radio channels from Nepal and China.

Rajnath himself appeared to hint as much when he appealed to the SSB to set up "India cultural centres" in border districts to "spread the message of nationalism in areas close to the borders".

Intelligence reports have indicated that along the India-Nepal border, China has opened at least 17 "China study centres", sources said. They appear to impart knowledge of Chinese culture and language but are suspected of propaganda in Nepal that could be inimical to India.

In the light of this, FM stations and cultural centres are expected to keep up the "spirit of Indian ethos" on both sides of the border, sources said. They would also be a counter to religious institutions suspected of spreading anti-India propaganda.