Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the government sources and pro-government media in India have once again started harping upon the old tune about the piling up of arms in the Golden Temple.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Despite denials by the freedom fighters, they continue spreading lies to the effect that innocent people were being tortured there to extort money out of them.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think the old exercise is being repeated to stage another Operation Bluestar so that Rajiv Gandhi has no difficulty in winning the next election?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, former Indian President, Mr. Zail Singh, in a sensational disclosure, stated that he was offered 30 to 40 corers of rupees to contest for the second term in office.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He said that the money was offered by the opposition leader, Congress (I) Parliament members and even by members of Rajiv Gandhi’s Cabinet.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How does Rajiv Gandhi propose to deal with the saboteurs in his party and Cabinet? Doesn’t it point to his shaky position as also to the politics of horse trading in India?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist Mr. Ambassador, Indian Home Minister, Mr. Buta Singh has threatened to impose emergency in Punjab if the freedom fighters refused to respond to the so called “peace overtures”.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: But Punjab is already reeling under draconian laws and a ruthless police raj. The judiciary there has been completely subverted and the state is totally closed to the outsiders.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think, in the context of the situation obtaining there, the threat sounds rather hollow? Could it be a veiled hint of impending Army Rule in Punjab?
Ambassador. Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 18, 1988
