Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Government has created large number of Senior posts in the CBI to take over the police control of border areas in Punjab.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Punjab Chief Minister, S. Surjit Singh Barnala, has protested to the Union Government against this unconstitutional interference in the State’s law order machinery.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: What is the necessity of handing over control of border areas to the CBI when central agencies like the B.S.F. and the Army are already in full control of the border? Don’t you think it is an indirect way of running the Punjab administration from New Delhi?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
+ + + +
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi cancelled his pro
posed visit to Gauhati to mobilize support for his party at the last moment.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: It is reported that there was a very heavy turnout for the rally organized by the opposition Party which was addressed by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Rama Rao. Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How far is it true that Rajiv cancelled his visit as he did not expect large crowds at the rally of his party? Don’t you think cancelling the visit has done more harm to his image than if the rally had actually flopped?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
+ + + +
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the first essential requisite of a democratic system is the independence of the judiciary. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: A democratic order is considered to be subverted by totalitarian or dictatorial forces when Executive either starts influencing the Judiciary or disregards its recommendations and judgments.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How can you call India a democratic country when it is the Executive and not judiciary that pulls the strings there? What do you think of the virtual rejection of Bains Committee (a judicial committee) recommendations regarding the release of 2,000 Sikhs and to the rearrests of Simranjit Singh Mann after a clear verdict in his favor by the Punjab and Haryana High Court?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 20, 1985
