JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, Punjab Governor, S.S. Ray has announced that elections to the village panchayats will be held in the state in March 1989.
AMBASSADOR: That’s Right.
JOURNALIST: He also indicated that elections to student unions and urban local bodies will also be held shortly after the Panchayat elections.
AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST; Don’t you think holding of panchayat and other such elections under President’s rule tantamount to cheating the regional political parties?
AMBASSADOR: Not in national interest to disclose.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, speaking at the Delhi reception, the Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev assured his Indian hosts that Soviet Unions improved relations with China will not affect its friendship with India.
AMBASSADOR: That’s Right.
JOURNALIST: And through a lavish and warm welcome India nits part made it clear to him how deeply it values its relations with the Soviet Union.
AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST: Don’t you think Soviet Union is using India to establish its supremacy in South and Southeast Asia and plans to cancel U.S. influence in Pakistan and Afghanistan through India?
AMBASSADOR: Not in national interest to disclose.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, Indian government has decided to arrange a special exhibition of late Indira Gandhi’s personal possessions on her birthday which falls on November 19.
AMBASSADOR: That’s Right.
JOURNALIST: it is learnt that bullet-ridden sari that she was wearing on the day of her assassination will also be put on exhibition.
AMBASSADOR: Very correct.
JOURNALIST: Don’t you think the motive behind the exhibition is to again emotionally surcharge the idol-worshipping multitudes of India to make them vote for her son’s party? How can Rajiv claim to be secular when he hopes to win elections only by whipping up communal passions of the Hindu majority?
AMBASSADOR: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 25, 1988
