Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, in its latest issue India Today has listed a number of suggestions to solve the Punjab problem including the suggestion for the laying of mines all along the Pakistan border to check Sikhs from crossing the border.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist Captain Amarinder Singh has also suggested in his interview with India Abroad that erecting a fence along the Indo-Pak border can solve the problem.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Pakistan argument is being deliberately used to evade the real issues? Would it not be better to post the U.N. Peace Force in Punjab and to open its doors to the foreign journalists?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the notorious Hindu terrorist, Roshan Lal Bairagi, escaped from police custody when he was being taken to Delhi from Amritsar.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He was able to escape despite the six armed guards and even though his handcuffs were chained to the belt of a constable. Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist; Don’t you think police allowed him to escape as he belongs to a powerful Hindu organization that is being used by the police to fight the Sikhs?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist; Mr. Ambassador, while apologizing for the atrocities committed by C.R.P.F. in village Brahampura, Punjab Police Chief, Mr. Ribeiro ruled out the demand for the withdrawal of C.R.P.F. from Punjab.
Ambassador; That’s right.
Journalist: But he not only issued a clean chit to the C.R.P.F. unit responsible for beating up villagers and molesting women but also called it a very disciplined force. He said that the commander of the unit was a very competent officer.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: How come molesting women and brutally beating innocent Sikhs have become symbols of good discipline? Does it mean Sikhs have no rights in India and must slavishly suffer the police atrocities without even a protest?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 9, 1987
