JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, Andhra Pradesh M.P.’s and M.L.A.’s were lathi charged when they protested against Rajiv Gandhi’s refusal to meet them.
AMBASSADOR: That’s right.
JOURNALIST: Eight M.P.’s and two Ministers from ‘Assam who wanted to discuss the flood disaster in their state, have now failed to get an appointment with the Prime Minister.
AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST: Does it mean Rajiv is too busy with middlemen like Win Chaddha, Hinduja, Jains and Bachchan’s and has no time for the elected representatives who ‘want to discuss important problems to the country?
AMBASSADOR: Not in national interest to disclose.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, India expressed its distress over Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue at the plenary discussions of the Non-Aligned foreign Ministers.
AMBASSADOR: That’s right.
JOURNALIST: Pakistan Foreign Minister had merely stated that dispute over Jammu and Kashmir needed to be solved in accordance with the Shimla accord. AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST: How come India feels so touchy at the mention of accords? Is it because of the miserable failure of Rajiv Longowal and Rajiv Jayewardene accord?” AMBASSADOR: Not in national interest to disclose.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, the Yamuna Par Pradesh Sangharsh Samiti has decided to launch signature campaign in support of a separate state comprising backward areas of Khekhra, Loni, Delhi U.P border, Sahibabad, Mohan Nagar and Noida.
AMBASSADOR: That’s right.
JOURNALIST: The Samiti leaders have threatened to start a “peaceful” Morcha if the central government kept on ignoring the popular demand of these backward areas.
AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST: Do you think this peaceful Morcha will also be forced to take a militant turn as happened in the Punjab and some mythical “foreign hand” will be blamed for it?
AMBASSADOR: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 23, 1988
