Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian foreign Minister, Mr. Bhagat, has lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan government over what it calls ‘lenient treatment’ to Sikhs who allegedly assaulted the Indian diplomats who were found smoking in the Gurdwara premises.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: He also gave a kind of threat when he said that such ‘encouragement’ to Sikhs could stall the process of normalization of relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Very correct.

Journalist: Do you think that Bhagat expects Pakistan to change its laws because of a minor quarrel between some individuals? Or is it that he considers Pakistan to be another Indian Punjab where his government can impose black laws and kill Sikhs for claiming to be Sikhs and not Hindus?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, speaking at a function in Japan, Rajiv Gandhi said that his government was not going to sign a nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: But he keeps repeating that India, being a ‘peace-loving’ country, has no plans to develop its own nuclear weapons. Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: Don’t you think his stand: amounts to blowing hot and cold in the same breath? How does he consider Pakistan’s nuclear power a threat to India when India’s mighty military power is no threat’ to small South Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Pakistan?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Congress (I) Member Parliament from Asam, Mr. Maulana Asad Madani, has bitterly criticized Central Government’s policy of discrimination against the minorities.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: In a crisp summing up he has said, ‘What the center is offering minorities is like alms to somebody it has made a beggar’ (India Today, November 30).

Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: Don’t you think Maulana Madani’s observation sums up RajivLongowal accord? Talking of the accord, what do you think of Late Longowal’s bold assertion, “This canal (SYL) will be dug over our dead bodies,” and his subsequent committing of Akali Dal to the completion of the canal by August 15, 1986? Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 6, 1985