Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, The Managing Committees of the Dayan and Anglo Vernacular (D.A.V.) schools in Punjab, are trying to get their schools affiliated to the Central Board of ‘Education and revoke their present affiliation with Punjab School Education Board.
Ambassador That’s right.
Journalist They want the change in the affiliation in order to substitute Hindi as the medium of instructions in place of Punjabi. Ambassador. Very Correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think the genesis of the Punjab problem can be traced back to the disowning of the mother tongue by the Punjabi Hindus? Isn’t their move separatist in character and won’t it adversely affect the Hindu Sikh relations in Punjab?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist; Mr, Ambassador, Indian government proposes to bring forward legislation to separate religion from politics. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist is supposedly being done to combat the menace of ‘communalism,
Ambassador: Very Correct.
Journalist How can religion be separated from politics when the majority community has virtually converted India into a Hindu theocratic state, where rulers crush minorities to appease their Hindu voters?
Ambassador. Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist Mr. Ambassador, Punjab police chief, Mr. J.F. Ribeiro has intensified his campaign of killing Sikh young men following the gunning down of Buta Singh’s relations.
Ambassador. That’s right.
Journalist: Hundreds of Sikhs have been put behind the bars and scores have been shot dead in fake encounters.
Ambassador. Very correct.
Journalist: Do you think Ribeiro can crush Sikh spirit through his Policy of ruthless state terrorism? Is he unaware of the Sikh history? Doesn’t he know that Sikhs could not be crushed even ‘when every Sikh head had a price on it?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 11, 1987
