Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Republic Day Parade in Delhi was held under unprecedented security arrangements. Rajiv Gandhi watched the show from behind a bulletproof glass cabin while helicopters hoved over his head.
Ambassador; That’s right.
Journalist: Indian President, Zail Singh, also abandoned his traditional horse drawn carriage for a bulletproof limousine to reach the venue of the parade.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it not prove that those who throw stones at others cannot afford to live in glass houses? Can those, who kill innocent young men in fake encounters and massacre helpless minorities to maintain their political power, enjoy the luxury of open carriages and free movement?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist! Mr. Ambassador, political analysts are increasingly getting skeptical about Rajiv Gandhi’s ability to steer India out of the morass in which his mother left it.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Talking about his difficulties, Manchester Guardian’s commentator says that Rajiv has neither been able to carry his party with him nor is he following the party line, leading to a directionless dissipation of energies.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Doesn’t it mean India is being led by an immature upstart whose focus is all clouded by his personal revengefulness against the Sikhs? Don’t you think constant threat of assassination has deranged his judgment, making him act whimsically and impulsively rather than rationally? Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Pakistan President, Mr. ZiaulHaq, has decided to go to India to watch the Indo Pakistan cricket match. Ambassador: That’s right.
Jouranlist: At is for the first time that head of Pakistan government would be going to India simply to watch a match even though Indian Prime Minister refused to go to Pakistan for a good will visit. Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Zia is bending backwards to placate India in order to preempt India’s plan to attack Pakistan? Don’t you think such antics of Zia won’t work as Rajiv can survive the mounting storms within the country only by starting a war?
Ambassador; Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 6, 1987
