Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Pakistan is deficient in food and is very keen to buy wheat stocks from India.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Surplus wheat is rotting in the open in Punjab (India) and other states are not lifting the stocks bought by the government agencies.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How is that Indian Government is not allowing the wheat to be sold to Pakistan? Don’t you think that surplus stocks can very easily be transported over the border with a minimum cost and maximum profit? Why is Indian government against earning profits from surplus wheat and rice. Is it because Sikhs produce most of these grains?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, All India Radio and T.V, Network Doordarshan are exclusively government owned agencies in India.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Their sole business is to promote the government policies and act as its mouthpiece. Opposition policies or personalities are seldom given any prominence by these agencies.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How is it that both All India Radio and Doordarshan are giving extensive coverage to the activities of Sant Longowal and are using every conceivable gimmick to build him up? Has the government struck any private deal with him?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian President is the constitutional head of the state. He is also the supreme commander of the Armed Forces.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Constitutional protocol demands that whenever the Prime Minister goes abroad, he first makes a courtesy call on the President to apprise him of his mission and on return again calls on him to report to him of the result of his mission.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Jouranlist: How is it that Rajiv violated this protocol and did not bother to call on the President either before going abroad or on his return to the country? Has he lost faith in the President or has he arrogated to himself the functions of the President also?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 5, 1985
