Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the newly elected Indian President Mr. Ramaswamy Venkatraman hinted after his swearing-in ceremony that he wanted an end to friction between the President and the Prime Minister.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He also promised not to “stray beyond the powers” that the Constitution gave him.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean like Zail Singh he would not call Rajiv “immature” but serve him with the same loyalty as Zail Singh served his mother, late Indira Gandhi?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian troops have landed in Sri Lanka to disarm the Tamil guerrillas fighting for an independent state of their own.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: But Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have refused to hand over their arms till they hear from their Lester, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think India would manipulate Prabhakaran’s refusal to surrender in order to keep its troops stationed there and use them for creating an independent Tamil State.
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Hindus in Delhi have started an anti-Sikh campaign after two BJP workers were shot dead by gunmen. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Even though identity of the gunmen has not been established and only the police story has put the blame on the Sikhs on the basis of what appears to be a planted note.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How is it no protest are made and no editorials are written when C.R.P.F. or B.S.F. men kill innocent Sikhs in fake encounters? Is it because Sikhs are not considered Indians?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 7, 1987
