Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi stands for multinationals, liberal capitalist economy and privatization of the public sector. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He has been ardently championing the cause of the big industrialists. He has even appointed industrial tycoons like J.R.D. Tata and Rahul Bajaj to key positions in the public sector undertakings.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: How come Communist parties of India are such strong supporters of Rajiv despite his pro capitalist policies? Is it because Rajiv is anti-American and pro-Russian?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv’s image as “Mr. Clean” has been sullied by the Fairfax and Swedish Arms deal scandals and his failures on the political front have proved him to be an immature and naive politician.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Instead of addressing himself to the monumental problems of poverty and backwardness, he roamed around the world more like a girl on her honeymoon than like a seasoned statesman striking nationally profitable bargains.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How come the responsibility of all his failures and actions is now being shifted on to his advisors? Isn’t it a clever design to bail him out from an ugly situation to save the Congress (I) from disintegration?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the dismissed Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala is blaming Rajiv for sacking a “poor” man try for political reasons.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He said that it was not deterioration in the law and order situation but Haryana elections that prompted Rajiv to take illegal action against him.
Ambassador; Very correct.
Journalist: Do you think Barnala was unaware of the fact that Rajiv extended Congress support to him simply to use him against Sikh interests?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 12, 1987
