Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, an Australian daily has, in its report, charged India of deep involvement in recent moves towards a coup in Fiji.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: The report blamed the Indian government for several shipments of Soviet arms to Fiji to overthrow the Melanesian dominated government of Fiji by using Indians, Libyans and mercenaries.
Ambassador. Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think India plans to use Indians there as it used the Tamils in Sri Lanka to ultimately control Fiji through its so called “Peace Keeping Force”?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the Kerala government has demanded abolition of the post of the Governor as well as revaming of the Center State relations.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: It has also called for deleting Article 356 that provides for President’s rule in the State since it was contrary to the democratic principles.
Ambassador. Very correct.
Journalist: How come Sikhs were branded as antinational and secessionists when they first made these very demands?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, opposition parties are demanding Rajiv Gandhi’s resignation following Congress (I)’s debacle in the Parliamentary byelections.
Ambassador; that’s right.
Journalist: They are insisting that the byelections had come to be regarded as a kind of referendum on the corrupt rule of Rajiv Gandhi.
Ambassador. Very correct.
Journalist: What do you think Rajiv would do now? Will he declare a national emergency or will he attack Pakistan or will he engineer anti-Sikh riots to maintain his position? Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 1, 1988
