Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi has dismissed 24 days old government of Tamil Nadu headed by Mrs. Janaki Ramchandran on the recommendation of the State Governor, Mr. S.L. Khurana.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Meanwhile Ms. Jayalalitha has called a party election to confirm her as AIADMK General Secretary and she has demanded fresh elections to the State Assembly. Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Congress would use this God sent opportunity to regain power in the State by keeping the two factions divided?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the former Finance Minister of Punjab, Mr. Balwant Singh is demanding restoration of Barnala ministry as Ray and Ribeiro team has failed in its campaign against the freedom fighters?
Ambassador. That’s right.
Journalist Mr. Parkash Singh Badal on the other hand is urging the Central government to make a unilateral announcement conceding the Punjab demands.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How come the two leaders continue playing long outmoded tunes when they know that final settlement rests only with the freedom fighters?
Ambassador. Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, replying to a question by a B.B.C. correspondent, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi said that it may not be easy to track down the culprits involved in the Before scandal.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He also said that no Indian had received any part of the 350 corers of bribe money allegedly paid by the Before to get the fabulous contract.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist Does he mean to suggest that the bribe could have been paid to his Italian wife who is neither Indian nor easy to track down?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 5, 1988
