Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, India appears to have played key role in getting seven South Asian nations together for greater economic interaction among them.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: It has also decided to form a committee of experts to study drug trafficking and terrorism and make recommendations to the seven foreign ministers on what the group can do to fight these threats.

Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: How is it that the Indian Prime Minister is anxious to stop suspected Pakistani support to Sikh insurgents, but refuses to discuss his own governments open involvement in Tamil terrorism in Sri Lanka?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

*                                  *                                              *                                                                      *

Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Addressing the Punjabi Congress in New Delhi, Rajiv Gandhi declared that his government will not tolerate ‘misuse’ of religious places in Punjab.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: To please the Prime Minister the Congress, through a resolution, demanded that religion should be kept out of politics and criminals should not be given refuge in religious places. Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: What have the so-called Punjabi ‘lovers’ to say to Congress (I) Bosses’ conspiracy to destroy Sikh religion? And what do they think of Rajiv Gandhi’s harboring of criminals like Jagdish Tytler and H.K.L. Bhagat in his cabinet?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

*                                  *                                              *                                                                      *

Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, a judicial committee headed by Justice Ajit Singh Bains has recommended the release of 2,000 Sikh youths even though 90% of them are facing murder charges. After examining the files and police reports, the committee described the charges as false and baseless.

Ambassador: That’s right.

Journalist: Now a Punjab and Haryana High Court Bench has quashed the detention of former I.P.S. officer S. Simranjit Singh Mann under National Security Act and ordered his immediate release.

Ambassador: Very correct.

Journalist: How is it that the Indian judiciary is waking up to its correct position and role after playing second fiddle to the executive for a number of years? How will Rajiv Gandhi tolerate these audacious acts of the judiciary?

Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 13, 1985