Journalist; Mr. Ambassador, Police first interrogated Mr. Abhinashi Singh, personal secretary to the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee President Gurcharan Singh Tohra in connection with Longowal murder case.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist; Subsequently Former Akali Dal President Mr. S. Jagdev Singh Talwandi was detained for five hours for interrogation and now former M.L.A. S. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura has been formally arrested and police has taken 15 days remand to interrogate him.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Government is using pressure tactics to make these leaders accept the accord? What do you say to the charge that Longowal was murdered by the Punjab Congress (1) in order to remove a potent threat to their ambition of ruling Punjab?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv has charged the Sikhs living abroad for engineering the murder of Longowal.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He has also charged that certain foreign governments are actively helping Sikhs and even training them for disruptive activities.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Rajiv is also developing the psychology of his mother in blaming the mysterious “foreign hand” for all the mishaps in India? Does it mean that he is no different from her and would follow exactly in her footsteps?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Longowal was not authorized by the Akali Dal High Command to enter into dialogue with the government.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Even S.G.P.C. Chief G.S. Tohra and Akali Dal’s former legislature Party leader Parkash Singh Badal have rejected the agreement.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Longowal signed the accord in his individual capacity? Won’t the government consider the accord as dead after the violent removal of Longowal from the scene, as it is no more binding upon the Sikhs?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 30, 1985
