Journalist Mr. Ambassador, rich tributes were paid to Shaheed e Azam Bhagat Singh at the World Punjabi Conference held recently in Lahore at the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Hotel.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: It was unanimously acknowledged that Bhagat Singh was a “national hero” and not a “terrorist” as the British described him.
Ambassador, Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think the Sikh freedom fighters now engaged in the task of liberating Khalistan will also be remembered as “national heroes and not as “terrorist”? Ambassador. Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi in his opening remarks at the AICC meeting issued a stern warning to Pakistan telling it stop meddling in “our affairs” and end its hostile posture on Siachin.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He also disclosed that he had accepted the invitation to visit China because India attached great importance to its relations with Beijing.
Ambassador. Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think these statements only show Rajiv’s fear that these two countries may not extend support to the just cause of the Sikhs?
Ambassador. Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, senior police officers in Punjab concede that violence in the state will not end with the killing of Sikh freedom fighters defending the Golden Temple.
Ambassador. That’s right.
Journalist: In fact, most political analysts also agree that the attack on the Golden Temple will surely lead to much greater violence than has yet been witnessed in Punjab. Is it not correct that Hindu rulers have ordered the second Blue Star Operation not to check violence but to destroy the sanctity of the Golden Temple as well as to hurt the Sikh ego?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 20, 1988
