Journalist Mr. Ambassador, Akali Dal (Longowal) leader Amarinder Singh had appealed to the Haryana Sikhs to vote for the Janata Party Lok Dal (Ajit Singh) alliance. Ambassador: That’s right. Journalist: But the real fight in Haryana is between Congress (I) and Lok Dal (Devi Lal) Bhartiya Janata Party combine and the combine is reported to be in a better position than the Congress. Ambassador; Very correct. Journalist: Don’t you think by voting for the Janata Party Lok Dal alliance, Sikhs would only be improving the chances of Congress (I) victory? Does it mean Amarinder Singh wants Congress (I) to win in Haryana? Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.********************************************************
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi addressed six elections meetings in Haryana but nowhere the crowd was more than five thousand and not a single Sikh was seen in any of the six meetings.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: It is learnt that dressed in a bulletproof jacket Rajiv Gandhi came to the meetings in special helicopters with top commando units forming almost an impregnable ring around him.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist; What sort of a democracy is it where people are not allowed to go anywhere near their “elected” leader? Don’t you think complete absence of Sikhs at those meetings indicates that Sikhs no longer consider him relevant to their struggle?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Syed Abudulla Bukhari, Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid reopened the historic Masjid after closing it for three weeks in protest against the brutal massacre of Muslims in
Delhi, Meerut and Broach.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist! He opened the Masjid following a promise by the authorities to suspend police officers accused of killing scores of Muslims.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How is it in India mere suspension in a case involving killing of over 60 innocent civilians is considered a big concession to the minorities?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 19, 1987
