Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Punjab Cabinet Minister, Mr. Majir Singh Oboke, has reportedly brought two specific cases of fake police encounters to the notice of the Chief Minister, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala?
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: It is also reliably learnt that on the complaint of four other members of his Cabinet, Mr. Barnala wrote three letters to the Police Chief, Mr. Ribeiro to stop fake encounters but Ribeiro did not even care to reply to the Chief Minister’s letters?
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean that the bureaucracy in Punjab takes orders from Delhi and not from the State Ministry? Does it mean that the ‘wanton killing of Sikh youth in Punjab is being done on the direct orders of Rajiv Gandhi?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv’s government has arrived at a settlement with the underground leader of Mizoram, Mr. Laldenga ‘who has agreed to bargain his demand for a separate state with special autonomous status for Mizoram within the Indian Union? Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Mr. Laldenga had gone underground after he was declared proclaimed offender. A good number of cases of murder and seditious activities were registered against him as have been registered against a number vocal of Sikhs particularly AISSF and Damdami Taksal leaders?
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think settlement with Laldenga shows that popular movements cannot be crushed with army or Para-military troops? Do you feel Rajiv will try to arrest the growing movement for Khalistan by granting complete autonomy to Punjab?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, while Rajiv has accepted autonomous status for Mizoram, his governor in Kashmir, Mr. Jagmoban, is engaged in the task of destroying Kashmir’s special status?
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Mc. Sagmoban is making far-reaching amendments in the Kashmir legislation. He is trying to change the lease hold on property from ninety years to forty years and after forty years the lease will get proprietary rights, thus, preparing for the ouster of poor Muslims by the rich Hindus?
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Kashmir’s special status is being compromised simply because Muslims are in majority there?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 11, 1986
