Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Army authorities have ordered the disbanding of 9 Sikh Regiments. The plan to disband all the other Sikh regiments including the Punjab Regiment, which is manned predominantly by Sikhs, has been finalized.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: To replace Sikh regiments, recruiting teams have already gone to Nepal for enlisting Gurkhas. But Rajiv has assured Longowal ‘that the Sikh Army deserters will be provided with alternate jobs.

Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: Will the government also provide jobs to the disbanded Sikh Regiments personnel? Don’t you think that the scheme of providing alternative jobs is in accordance with the policy of reducing Sikhs to positions of Watchmen and security guards outside big hotels and factories?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

*                                              *                                              *

Journalist: Mr. Ambassador. Rajiv Gandhi has ordered a judicial probe into the charges of corruption, nepotisn, favoritism, and misuse of power leveled against Haryana Chief Minister, Bhajan, Lal, in a memorandum submitted to him by the opposition leaders.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: But Bhajan Lal is on record having remarked that so long people ‘care’ for money, nobody can touch him.

Ambassador: Very correct. !

Journalist: Is it true that race has already started among Delhi Judges to hook the prized enquiry commission? Do you honestly believe that Indian judiciary is left with any judge of integrity who can resist Bhajan Lal’s seductive temptations?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

*                                              *                                              *

Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, in the Nellie (Assam) massacre nearly 6,000 Muslims were mercilessly finished by Hindu mobs, and more recently 14 Muslims were burnt alive in Gujarat again by Hindu mobs.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: More than 10,000 Sikhs were brutally murdered in Delhi and other Indian towns in November 1984 also by rampaging Hindus mobs.

Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: How is it that when Hindu mobs resort to large scale violence against helpless minorities they are not called terrorists, whereas a minority is instantly held responsible for every alleged act of violence against the majority and branded as a terrorist? Does it mean that Hindus have a right to kill?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 9, 1985