Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Punjab government removed the State Police Chief, Mr. K. S. Dhillon, holding him morally responsible for the assassination of Sant Longowal.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Earlier late Indira Gandhi had removed Sikh officers when innocent bus passengers were killed, holding them morally responsible for the tragedy.
Ambassador: Very correct. ?
Journalist: How is it that even after the assassination of two stalwarts like Lalit Maken and Arjan Dass, Delhi Police Commissioner Mr. Ved Marwah, has not been removed? Is he is not considered morally responsible for these lapses or are there different standards for Hindus and Sikhs?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist; Mr. Ambassador, Punjab Government has suddenly swung into action and arrested over 400 members of the All India Sikh Students Federation.
Ambassador: That’s right
Journalist; Government has also completely sealed the Indo-Pak border falling in Punjab sector and also closed to Sikhs the border between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How is it that no mass scale arrests are made in any other part of the country even after serious cases of violence? Don’t you think AISSF members have been arrested not because of their involvement in any case of violence but to prevent them from making the boycott of elections a success? Don’t you think violence is the handiwork of the Congress (1) for the purpose of cashing Hindu votes?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, According to reports from certain states, particularly U.P. and Madhya Pardesh, Hindu fundamentalists have started attacking Sikh homes.
Ambassador: That’s right. Journalist: Organized gangs come, open fire and then loot the property. Police takes no notice and even after written complaints refuses to take any action.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean that the government wants the Sikhs living outside Punjab to shift back to their home state? How else do you explain the inaction of the police?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 13, 1985
