Journalist: Mr. Ambassador Amritsar police has registered a case of assault against a Punjab Minister Mr. Harbhjan Singh Sandhu. Mr. Sandhu is reported to have slapped and abused an assistant subinspector of police.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: The case was reportedly registered under direct instructions from the Union Home Minister Mr. But a Singh who operates in Punjab through the Central government appointed Director General of Police Mr. J. Ribeiro.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think minimum courtesy demanded that the State Chief Minister should have been consulted before registering a case against his colleague? Does it not conclusively prove that Barnala is only a show piece to deceive the World while the state is being governed directly by the Central government?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr Ambassador speaking at Calcutta Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi declared that he would never accept Gurkha demand for a separate state called Gurkhaland. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Earlier his mother had the same tough stand against Mizorams rebel leader Mr. Laldenga. In fact she considered Lalenga as a serious danger to the unity of the country. Rajiv however found no option but to accept Laldenga’s terms.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean that Delhi rulers accept legitimate demands only when they are left with no option? Why can’t they straight away accept reasonable demands and avoid unnecessary bloodshed and national waste of resources?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador it is generally believed that Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala rejected the Venkatramia Commissions recommendation on the advice of Rajiv Gandhi.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Rajiv used Barnala to indefinitely postpone the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab as Rajiv had no other excuse to postpone the transfer.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: What do you think is the reason behind postponing the transfer of Chandigarh? Is it because Rajiv fears the Hindu Fundamentalists or is he interested only in keeping the issue alive till the Haryana elections?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 26, 1986
