JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, during his recent visit to Punjab Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said he would hold talks with opposition parties on the State’s future.
AMBASSADOR: That’s Right.
JOURNALIST: He ruled out a dialogue with the Sikh militants and threatened tough action to contain their growing hold in the state.
AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST: Do you think a lasting solution to the Punjab problem can be found without involving the Sikh militants? When, do you think, rulers in Delhi will develop a realistic approach?
AMBASSADOR: Not in national interest to disclose.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, the Indian government first extended support to Jasbir Singh Rode and then destroyed him by exposing his links with the government during and after the operation Black Thunder.
AMBASSADOR: That’s Right.
JOURNALIST: Now it has switched its support to Prof. Darshan Singh Ragi and handed over the Golden Temple complex to the SGPC.
AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST: Don’t you think now it would play one against the other and use both to divide the Sikhs and weaken the militants?
AMBASSADOR: Not in national interest to disclose.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, talking to a news reporter, Rajiv Gandhi said, “‘it shall not be easy for us to withdraw the Defamation Bill because it had become a prestige issue for us.”
AMBASSADOR: That’s Right.
JOURNALIST: Not to punish those guilty of massacring
JOURNALIST: Not to punish those guilty of massacring thousands of Sikhs after his mother’s assassination, is also a Prestige issue with him.
JOURNALIST; Does it mean prestige of Rajiv has now substituted the constitution and the country is run in accordance with his whims?
AMBASSADOR: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 30, 1988
