Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, in the exclusive interview with ABC, Rajiv Gandhi disputed the suggestion that Indian army invaded the Golden Temple. “Army just went in to bring out the entrenched ‘separatists,’ ” he explained.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He also disclosed that his mother, Indira Gandhi, did not consult him before ordering the army to invade the Golden Temple. “In matters of taking his council, it was mostly one way traffic,” he elaborated.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think that Rajiv was trying in vain to exonerate both himself and the army of the colossal folly committed by his mother? Whom does he intend to deceive by such flagrant falsehood?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
+ + +
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, answering another question in the course of the same interview, Rajiv Gandhi categorically stated that India did not possess Atom bomb and not intend to develop one.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: In his interview with French newspaper “Le Monde,” Gandhi said that his government was deciding whether to build a nuclear weapon and could have one ready in matter of “weeks” or “months.”
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Which interview should the world take seriously? Does it mean that his utterances mean nothing and can be classified as statements of convenience, depending upon the situation and platform from where he makes them?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
+ + +
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian government has lodged wild protests against allotment of a table to some Sikh leaders at the Press club luncheon engagement of Rajiv Gandhi.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Earlier the Indian government and Parliament had angrily reacted to Human Rights briefings under the joint sponsorship of Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Human Rights Internet and the Minority Rights Group and had labeled it as uncalled for interference in the internal affairs of the country.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Why is Indian government so allergic to Sikhs? What is it that they want to hide from the world? How do they she distinguishes their concern for Hindu Tamilians in Sri Lanka from civilized and democratic world’s concern for government engineered Sikh genocide in India?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 14, 1985
