Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Bhajan Lal, Chiet Minister of Haryana, has proposed merger of Himcchal Pradesh & Haryana into Punjab as a way out to solve the Punjab problem.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Organized mob violence against the Sikhs and their sacred shrines first took place in Haryana where Sikhs were subjected to humiliation and harassment during the Asiad in 1982 and at Sonepat, Panipat and Karnal where Sikh Temples (Gurdwaras) were burnt and innocent Sikhs were massacred and burnt alive.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Is it pure coincidence or a calculated design that the glimpses of what the Central government proposes to do to the Sikhs are shown beforehand on the Haryana screen as a sort of trailer of its plans?
Ambassador: Not in National Interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the merger proposal on the face of it gives the impression of being nationalistic and secular in approach.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Major demands of the Sikhs relate to the economic interests of Punjab where they constitute a majority e.g. more powers to the state, restoration of its plundered water and electricity and integration of left out Punjabi speaking areas into Punjab.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think that the merger proposal in reality is a clever move to convert the Sikhs from a majority community to a minority community in Punjab and also to legalize, the claims of the no riparian Haryana state to the waters, electricity and other resources of Punjab?
Ambassador: Not in National Interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi is stretching himself to the point of arousing suspicion in projecting himself as “‘Mr. Clean,” through measures like Antireflection Bill.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Government controlled All India Radio and Doordarshan (T.V, Network) are day in and day out blaring out make-believe stories to prove him to be ‘Mr. Clean.’’ The Hindu press is faithfully and parrot like repeating this chorus being regularly chanted on All India Radio and Doordarshan.
Ambassador: Very Correct.
Journalist: How is that the vilest defectors like Bhajan Lal and G.M. Shah have not been dismissed to clean the political climate of India? Are these killers of democracy being purposely retained to practice the most unclean politics of teaching a lesson to Sikhs in Punjab and Muslims in Kashmir?
Ambassador: Not in National Interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 15, 1985
