Journalist: Mr. Ambassador in a statement released to the press Dr. Farooq Abdulla has said that popular government is shortly going to replace the Presidents rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Dr. Abdulla’s optimism is the result of National Conference coming to terms with Congress (I) to form a coalition government in the state and reflects his anxiety to return fo power whatever be the price.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Delhi is using Dr. Abdulla to defeat the popular demand for fresh elections in the State? Doesn’t Abdulla realizes that like Barnala in Punjab he would be no better than a pawn in the hands of Delhi and would be kicked around to the advantage of the Centre?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador departing from its old policy Indian government has decided to buy jet-engines for their fighter planes from America.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: This will be India’s first purchase from America in the military field. India had so far depended mainly on the Soviet block for their military supplies.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How do you explain this shift in India’s policy? Isn’t India attempting to create its clout with America in the same way as it created with Britain through the purchase of helicopters and use that clout to make America swallow the outrageous suppression of minorities and human rights violations in India?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mir. Ambassador the Anti-Repression Committee headed by a former Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court has in its report indicted the Border Security Force for killing ten innocent Sikh youths in the Dera Baba Nanak sector.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: The report says that the killings were the result of a calculated conspiracy by B.S.F. to root out the Sikh youths of the border districts and to terrorize the people.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalists: How come U.S. Director of Rights in the state department Mr Robert Rack males refuses to accept the truth and stubbornly maintains that no violation of Human Rights have taken place in India? How long can officials in the State department subordinate truth to trade interests and yet claim to be champions of liberty?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 3, 1986
