Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, police swooped upon the offices of ‘Tamil Liberation Front in Madras and arrested nearly 1000 activists including senior leaders. Police also recovered from them arms and ammunition that they were given for use against the Sri Lankan government.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: In New Delhi, however, a spokesman of Rajiv Gandhi’s government denied that the action was taken under pressure from the Centre; He maintained that the State government had acted on its own.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How is it that the State government suddenly decided to act against its openly declared aim of helping the Tamil guerrillas? Is because Rajiv wants Sri Lankan President, Mr. J. Jayewardene not to boycott the forthcoming SAARC meeting in Bangalore?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the leader of the dissident Akali legistrature group, Capt. Amarinder Singh, is reportedly hobnobbing to redetect to Barnala Akali Dal in order to become the Chief Minister.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He is trying to win over the required number of M.L.A.’s to join him so as to avoid disqualification for defection.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean Rajiv has decided to remove the temporary pawns like Barnala and Balwant and put his own man in the saddle? Don’t you think Rajiv had planted Amarinder Singh in the Akali Dal to serve as the Trojan horse to wreck Akali Dal from within?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi has stated that the Gurkha Liberation Front’s demand for an independent Gurkhaland is not a separatist demand.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He also said that it was for the communist government of West Bengal to accept or reject the demand. “It was not for the Center to decide this issue”, he clarified.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How is it every issue relating to Punjab including the deployment of police is decided by the Centre whereas the demand for Gurkhaland is considered a State subject only? Don’t you think Rajiv is supporting the demand for Gurkhaland to create unrest in ‘West Bengal so that he can dismiss the opposition government there and rule the state from Delhi?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 14, 1986
