Journalist: Mir. Ambassador, some goondas assaulted First Secretary ‘of Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi in protest against Pakistan’s alleged support to Sikh struggle in Punjab.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: The goondas reportedly belonged to the same quarters as had indulged in anti-Sikh massacre in November, 1984.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Do you think these goondas also enjoy government patronage and police protection? Do they belong to H.K.L. Bhagat and Jagdish Tytler gang or is it some new combination representing both the Congress (I) and the BJP elements?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, has said that he was willing to talk to Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tora to sort out the Punjab problem. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He also said that solutions always emerge out of give and take attitude. He said that in Mizoram yesterday’s unlawful party has been entrusted with the responsibility of sharing the administration of the State.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: When would he realize that no useful purpose would be served by talking to Badal or Tohra unless he involves All India Sikh Student Federation and Damdami Taksal in the talks? What would he gain by putting up another hoax like Barnala to dupe the World in general and the Sikhs in particular?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose,
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, according to a story in India To-day, Central Reserve Police Force men attacked innocent Sikhs killing two and beating up the women simply on a report that they were harassing a Hindu thief who had stolen their water melons.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: According to another report, a Hindu lawyer in Chandigarh got a Sikh client killed by the C.R.P.F. by saying that a terrorist had come to attack him when actually the client had only objected to the exorbitant addition to the already settled fee.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean that any Hindu can settle his personal ‘enemity with a Sikh by lodging a false report with the C.R.P.F.? Isn’t C.R.P.F, doing in Punjab what Nazi squads done to exterminate Jews in Germany?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 18, 1986
