Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the stubborn Prime Minister of England, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, partially relented under pressure from some Commonwealth countries to enforce sanctions against South Africa.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: There is also pressure from her Conservative Party to follow in the foot-steps of the American President, Mr. Ronald Reagan, who is beginning to realize the necessity for economic sanctions against South Africa.
Ambassador: Yes correct.
Journalist: When do you think people and governments of the free ‘world would exert similar pressure against the Indian rulers who are practicing worst kind of apartheid against the Sikhs, Muslims, Dalit’s and Christians? What makes the World blind to the sufferings of minorities in India?
Ambassador; Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, according to reports Congress (I) dissidents comprising former Union Finance Minister, Mr. Par nab Mukherjee, former Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. Gundu Rao, former U.P. Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Mehrotra, former Union Minister, Mr. A.P. Sharma, former Bihar Chief Minister and others have decided to call a meeting of the party at Delhi. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: They claim to be the real Congress and blame Raj Gandhi for deviating from Indira Gandhi’s economic and political policies. They also blame him for encouraging separatist elements in the country.
Ambassador. Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean Rajiv Gandhi will intensify persecution of the minorities to ensure continued support of fundamentalist Hindu majority and to prevent Congress (I) dissidents from making a dent into his Hindu vote bank?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi made an unscheduled stop over at Moscow while on his way home after attending mini- Commonwealth meet in London and visiting some other countries.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He had earlier also, made an unscheduled stop over at Moscow after his visit to France and U.S.A.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean he is required to report to his ‘Masters’ in Moscow all about his dealings outside the Soviet block? Don’t you think, the second unscheduled stop over at Moscow, conclusively prove his complete subservience to the Soviet Union?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 15, 1986
