Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi is reported to have run over and killed a peacock that was busy romancing in the middle of the road.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: Instead of prosecuting the Prime Minister for killing the National bird, Indian police was considering charging the bird with suicide and booking the poor peahen for aiding and abetting.

Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: Does it mean members of the ruling dynasty are above law and police axe in India falls on the weak only?

 Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Ramakrishna Hegde who resigned on moral grounds over the phone-tapping issue has accused Rajiv Gandhi of having installed the most sophisticated gadgets for tapping telephones including that of President Venkataraman.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: Consequently, opposition leaders are demanding that Rajiv Gandhi should also resign.

Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: Why are the opposition leaders wasting their breath? Don’t they know that for Rajiv the only morality is to perpetuate his dynastic rule through hook and crook?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian police shot down four Muslims and wounded 27 others in Kashmir state for publically expressing their grief over the tragic death of the Pakistan President, Zia-Ul-Hagq.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: Meanwhile people and officials of Pakistan have not minced words in suspecting India’s hand in the terroristic missile attack on Zia’s aircraft.

Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: Do you think police killed grieving Muslims to warm Pakistanis that they will kill more Indian Muslims if they blamed Rajiv Gandhi for the attack?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

Article extracted from this publication >> August 26, 1988