Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the ideal principle of uprightness and justice is that one should not only be upright and just but should also appear to be upright and just.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Justice Kirpal and Justice Dayal have come to acquire, through their questionable pro government judgments, the notoriety of being government spokesmen.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think that the appointment of Justice Kirpal to supervise the analysis of the Jumbo Jet recorders confirms the fear of tampering? How is it that the government did not associate a committee of experts from other countries to supervise the whole operation?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
+ + +
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Congress (I) Member of Parliament Mr. K. K. Tewari had loudly protested against Indian President Mr. Zail Singh’s playing the host to American based “Khalistanees” like S. Didar Singh Bains and Harbhajan Yogi.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Now President’s press secretary Tarlochan Singh has released to the press photograph of these Khalistanees posing with Rajiv Gandhi.
Ambassador: Very Correct.
Journalist: Can you tell whether Zail Singh is a better friend of these “Khalistanees” or Rajiv Gandhi is a better friend? Could it be that to settle their mutual scores, they are using these Khalistani ‘sticks’ to beat the other?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
+ + +
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Punjab problem is truly a Sikh problem. It needs a political solution and should not be treated merely as a law and order problem.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: For normalcy Government’s anxiety should be to come to terms with the Sikhs as a whole. The correct approach would be to determine as to what can satisfy the Sikh masses.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How is it that the government is not concerned with the aspirations of the Sikhs, but is concentrating upon enticing and purchasing the leaders? Don’t you think that this approach is being adopted so that it should not yield a lasting solution?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 19, 1985
